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Application of Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios to Recognize Natural Biodegradation of MTBE
Citation:
WILSON, J. T. Application of Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios to Recognize Natural Biodegradation of MTBE. Presented at NEIWPCC, Assessment and Remediation of Oxygenates and Other Fuel Components, Atlanta, GA, November 14 - 16, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
Present at the NEIWPCC, Assessment and Remediation of Oxygenates and Other Fuel Components
Description:
The organisms that degrade MTBE under anaerobic conditions are evolved to acquire energy for growth by using molecular hydrogen and carbonate ion to cleave methyl ether bonds. Methyl ether bonds are common in nature and the bond also occurs in MTBE. MTBE in contaminated ground water will be degraded under anaerobic conditions if adequate concentrations of molecular hydrogen are available, usually from the methane fermentation of BTEX compounds. Anaerobic biodegradation of MTBE produces strong fractionation of stable carbon isotopes. This makes is possible to estimate the extent of biodegradation of MTBE from the shift in the ratio of 13C to 12C in MTBE in the contaminated ground water.