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DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: EX-SITU ANAEROBIC BIOREMEDIATION TECHNOLOGY - TNT - J.R. SIMPLOT COMPANY
Citation:
U.S. EPA. DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: EX-SITU ANAEROBIC BIOREMEDIATION TECHNOLOGY - TNT - J.R. SIMPLOT COMPANY. EPA/540/MR-95/529, 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The J. R. Simplot Ex-Situ Anaerobic Bioremediation System, also known as the J.R. Simplot Anaerobic Biological Remediaton Process (the SABRE™ Process), is a technology designed to destroy nitroaromatic and energetic compounds. The process does not evolve any known toxic intermediates at the completion of treatment. The nitroaromatic analyte of interest during this demonstration was 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), an explosive compound used in ordnance operations. [NOTE: A separate Demonstration of this technology was previously undertaken with dinoseb (2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) as the contaminant of interest. The results of this Demonstration are reported independently.] The theory of operation behind the J. R. Simplot bioremediation process is that TNT-contaminated soils (or liquids) can be treated using an anaerobic consortium of soil microorganisms. Under aerobic conditions, degradation of TNT forms polymerization products that are potentially toxic. Anaerobic degradation of TNT takes place without the presence of these toxic polymerization products at the completion of treatment. The J.R. Simplot technology mixes a carbon source with contaminated soil and then adds water and phosphate buffers to create a slurry adjusted to the required pH. This prompts aerobic microorgan- isms to consume the carbon source and thus the oxygen. This lowers the redox potential (Eh) of the slurry and creates anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic microorganisms are then stimulated to consume toxins present in the slurry. The J.R. Simplot Company proposes to mix the carbon source with the slurry water prior to contaminated soil addition in the future.