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Environmental Research Brief. ANAEROBIC BIODEGREDATION OF BTEX IN AQUIFER MATERIAL (EPA/600/S-97/003)
Citation:
Borden, R. C., M. J. Hunt, M. B. Shafer, AND M. A. Barlaz. Environmental Research Brief. ANAEROBIC BIODEGREDATION OF BTEX IN AQUIFER MATERIAL (EPA/600/S-97/003). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 1997.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
This study focuses on the anaerobic biodegradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) in aquifer material from two petroleum-contaminated aquifers; Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SB) in Michigan and a site near Rocky Point, North Carolina (RP). The two sites examined were chosen because of their differences in plume size, contaminant residence time, geochemical environment and geologic setting. At both sites, previous field monitoring indicated that anaerobic biodegradation of one or more BTEX components was occurring. Two different techniques were used to evaluate the ability of indigenous microorganisms to anaerobically degrade BTEX and to estimate the rate of degradation: (1) destructively sampled laboratory microcosms; and (2) in-situ test chambers. Both techniques consist of spiking aquifer sediment with BTEX and monitoring compound disappearance overtime. Experimental conditions were designed to mimic ambient conditions in the aquifer to the maximum extent possible. Killed controls were monitored at the same time to differentiate between biological and abiotic losses.
URLs/Downloads:
ANAEROBIC BIODEGREDATION OF BTEX IN AQUIFER MATERIAL (EPA/600/S-97/003)ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: ANAEROBIC BIODEGRADA- TION OF BTEX IN AQUIFER MATERIAL (PDF, NA pp, 94 KB, about PDF)