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Demonstrating Contaminant Degradation at an MGP Site With Metabolic Gas Flux and Radio Carbon Dating
Author(s) -
Carroll Sean M.,
Peacock Aaron D.,
Zimbron Julio,
Alepidis Kenneth N.,
Clock Jeffrey A.
Publication year - 2017
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.21508
Subject(s) - sediment , environmental chemistry , flux (metallurgy) , degradation (telecommunications) , contamination , environmental science , microbial population biology , microbial biodegradation , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , carbon fibers , total organic carbon , sorbent , biodegradation , chemistry , geology , ecology , microorganism , adsorption , biology , materials science , paleontology , telecommunications , organic chemistry , composite number , computer science , bacteria , composite material
Obtaining lines of evidence indicating that contamination in sediment environments is degrading and being transformed to less toxic forms is an important component of building support for a monitored natural recovery remedy for contaminated sediments. This project was a field demonstration of manufactured gas plant contaminant degradation in river sediments using metabolic gas flux and was performed in an urban area section of a river in northeastern Indiana. CO 2 sorbent traps were deployed to measure CO 2 flux from the river sediments. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and for microbial community composition using molecular techniques. The results showed that the deployment was successful, measuring CO 2 flux at all sediment locations and demonstrating that microbial contaminant degrading activity was occurring in the sediments. Radio carbon dating showed a significant portion of the CO 2 being generated (approximately 19–27 percent) was the result of fossil fuel degradation. Molecular results showed that the microbial community consisted of phylotypes known to be associated with monocyclic aromatic and PAH degradation. ©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.