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MTBE BIOREMEDIATION WITH BIONETS CONTAINING ISOLITE, PMI, SOS ON AIR
Citation:
DavisHoover*, W J., J. J. Fleischman, J Goetz*, K. Hristova, S. C. Hunt, M Kemper*, K. Knutson, W. Mahaffee, M H. Roulier*, K. Scow, D. J. Slomczynski, AND S. A. Stavnes. MTBE BIOREMEDIATION WITH BIONETS CONTAINING ISOLITE, PMI, SOS ON AIR. Presented at Third International Conference, Monterey, CA, 5/20-23/2002.
Description:
Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive, is a persistent and foul tasting contaminant that is more mobile in ground water than BTEX. It is turning up at many American crossroads. This study's objective was to determine if biologically active in situ Bionets could bioremediation MTBe. Seven Bionets, most containing 3 lifts each, were placed in a site located on the Flathead Reservation Montana at the foothills of the Mission Mountains. The MTBE and BTEX plume from a local gasoline station was contaminated farmland and threatening Native American owned surface waters. The Bionets contained; 1) Isolate or sand as a control (to help in creating bioremediation zones by facilitating innoculation, allowing attachment of the bacteria and presenting a zone for addition of oxygen by way of aeration or addition of Slow Releasing Oxygen); 2) an aerobic bacteria known to degrade MTBE, PM, which can be monitored with a genetic probe; 3) nutrients; and 4) oxygen as air or SRO. Bionet BN-01 contained 3 lifts of sand, inoculated with PM1, nutrients and air. Bionet BN-02 contained 3 lifts of Isolite, inoculated with PM1, nutrients, and SRO. BN-7 was a single lift repeat of BN-02. BN-03 contained 3 lifts of Isolite, inoculated with PM1, nutrients, and air. BN-04 contained 3 lifts of Isolite, no inoculated bacteria, nutrients, and air. BN-05 and 06 were in a more dilute portion of the MTBE plume closer to the impacted stream. BN-05 contained 3 lifts of Isolite, no inoculated bacteria, nutrients, and air. BN-06 contained 3 lifts of Isolite, inoculated with PM1, nutrients, and air. A monitoring well was installed within each Bionet to measure contaminant concentrations and microbial activity. Results indicate that there is a direct correlation to the percent reduction of MTBE concentratons the inoculation of PM1, and the number of lifts. The use of STO stimulates more or as much reduction as the use of 8 months of air addition. The highest reductions were seen in the lst impacted area by the stream. Reductions for BTEX and MTBE for 12 months will also be given.