7/30/2019 Enhanced Bioremediation of Persistent Organic Chemical
Pollutants
1/1
Issue date: November 03
Enhanced bioremediation of persistentorganic chemical
pollutants
BACKGROUND
Large-scale contamination of soils and groundwater byorganic
chemical pollutants has been recognised, overthe past couple of
decades, as a serious problem.Implications for damage to human
health, theenvironment and civil structures are now considered
topose serious risks to the integrity of our globalecosystem.
In the UK, part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act1990
states that contaminated land must be identifiedand, if found to
pose a significant risk, must be
remediated. In addition to this, planning regulationsalso state
that brownfield land must be remediatedprior to redevelopment.
Biological treatment technologies are relatively new tothe field
of geoenvironmental engineering. Muchresearch is required in order
to develop more efficientand effective methods of implementing
suchtechnologies. Bioremediation research requires theintegration
of a number of different fields includingproject management, soil
science, hydrogeology andengineering. The GRP has a wide range of
expertise,making it well suited for this type of project.
THE PROJECT
A site has been identified as being contaminated withboth
petroleum and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Due tothe extent of
contamination, the first aim of the projectwas to target a specific
problem from which to developthe research. The focus of this
project is aimed at anumber of persistent organic chemical plumes
whichare migrating towards off-site receptors. The plumes
consist of BTEX and chlorinated organic compounds
which have been located at depths of up to 25 metresbelow ground
level. Most of the contamination wasfound to be highly mobile, and
in the solute phase.
Enhanced bioremediation has been chosen as thepreferred
treatment method for these plumes. The USEnvironmental Protection
Agency defines enhancedbioremediation as a process in which
indigenous orinoculated micro-organisms degrade (metabolise)organic
contaminants found in soil and/or groundwater.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1. To obtain samples from the site.2. To identify and quantify
indigenous micro-
organisms using genetic analysis.
3. To single out those micro-organisms which containthe
appropriate genes necessary for facilitatingmetabolisation of the
pollutants.
4. To carry out microcosm studies, using the
chosenmicro-organisms, under different nutrientconditions, in order
to determine their degradation/transformation capabilities.
5. To use these findings in proposing a method which
could be employed in the field to remediate thepolluted focus
area of the site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Dr Robert W. Francis Mr Wayne R. [email protected]
[email protected]+44 (0)29 2087 5005 +44 (0)29 2087 4000 x7401
POLLUTANT PLUME
Groundwater Flow
Microbeseeding
TREATMENT ZONE
