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Full‐scale bioremediation of a dilute 50‐acre plume
Author(s) -
Falatko David M.,
Fam Sami A.,
Blackburn Jason,
McGillicuddy Glenn,
Pon George,
Gaudette Michael
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.21300
Subject(s) - plume , groundwater , bioaugmentation , environmental science , acre , transect , environmental remediation , bioremediation , environmental engineering , contamination , geology , geography , ecology , meteorology , biology , agroforestry , geotechnical engineering
Enhanced anaerobic dechlorination is being conducted to remediate a 50‐acre groundwater area impacted with chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). The plume, which is over 3,000 feet (ft) long, initially contained tetrachloroethene and breakdown products at concentrations of 2 to 3 milligrams per liter. The site's high groundwater flow velocity (greater than 1,000 ft per year) was incorporated into the design to help with amendment distribution. Bioaugmentation was conducted using a mixed culture containing Dehalococcoides ethenogenes. There is evidence that it has migrated to distances exceeding 600 ft. The major benefit of the high groundwater flow velocity is greater areal coverage by the remediation system, but the downside is the difficulty in delivering sufficient donor to create the required anaerobic conditions. Overall performance has been excellent with total CVOC reductions and conversion to ethene of 98 percent within a 25‐acre area downgradient of the treatment transect that has operated the longest. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.