Grantee Research Project Results
Effects of Cosolvent Additions on the Biodegradability of High Molecular Weight PAH Compounds in Soil
EPA Contract Number: 68D10057Title: Effects of Cosolvent Additions on the Biodegradability of High Molecular Weight PAH Compounds in Soil
Investigators: Dobbins, Durell C.
Small Business: BioTrol Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1991 through March 1, 1992
Project Amount: $49,550
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1991) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Addition of cosolvents to water increases the solubility of hydrophobic contaminants by shifting the adsoption equi- librium to favor higher aqueous phase concentrations. In- creasing their water solubility makes contaminants more accessible for biodegradation. While it is often speculated that low rates or lack of biodegradation is caused by low aqueous solubility, no studies have been performed to date to determine whether cosolvents can elicit a biodegadation response in samples that were presumably sorption limited. The proposed study will determine the effects of cosolvents on biodegradation of high molecular weight polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in samples where no biodegradation was previously observable, presumably due to organic- phase partitioning. The results of the study will theoreti- cally provide a new cosolvent-enhanced bioremediation procedure that is economically advantageous over alterna- tive technologies where bioremediation alone is inadequate to achieve assigned cleanup criteria.Supplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Hazardous, Remediation, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Contaminated Sediments, Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Bioremediation, Superfund site remediation, water solubility, cleanup, biodegradability, cosolvent systems, hazardous waste cleanup, in-situ bioremediation, soil, hazardous wate, hazardous waste treatment, in situ bioremediation, soils, PAHs, biodegradation, hazardous waste, in situ remediation, hazardous waste site, hazardous waste sites, PAH, superfund site, SuperfundProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.