Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.2
Phenomena Influencing Bioremediation
Phenomena
Representative Characterization Method
Microscale
Microorganism
Degradation pathways
Reaction stoichiometry
Reaction kinetics
Electron acceptors
Nutrients
Inhibitors, toxicity
Water activity, pH
Reactions with soil or aquifer matrix
Chemical equilibria
Sorption (equilibrium)
Plate counts, gene probes
Batch reaction studies
Batch reaction studies
Batch reaction studies
Chemical analysis
Chemical analysis for nitrogen and
phosphorus
Batch reaction studies
Electrochemical probes
Abiotic reaction studies
Abiotic batch sorption studies
Mesoscale
Sorption (nonequlibrium)
Attachment/detachment
(microorganisms)
Diffusion
Plugging/filtration
Interphase transport
Abiotic batch and column sorption studies
Biofilm studies, attached microbe
enumeration
Column studies, pressure drop and flow rate
Multiphase column studies
Macroscale
Advection
Well elevations, pump tests, tracer studies
Dispersion
Conservative tracer studies
Spatial heterogeneity
Well logs, core permeabilities
Hydrologic properties and
boundary conditions
Same as for advection and dispersion
Source
: Adapted from Sturman et al., 1995.
alter a site to fit a specific technology. It is imperative to keep an open mind
about possible treatment technologies. Because each site has unique charac-
teristics, a feasibility study can determine limiting factors and the appropri-
ate remediation technology to be implemented. In transitioning from the
bench to the field, observations at each scale must be understood and incor-
porated into a cost-effective remediation design.
3.8 Summary
The Department of Defense (DOD) has more than 21,000 contaminated sites
requiring some form of remediation. Contaminants on these sites include
explosive compounds (i.e., trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitra-
mine (RDX), high melting point explosive (HMX)), chlorinated solvents (i.e.,
tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), TCA), PAHs (i.e.,
benzo-a-pyrene), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (i.e., Aroclors). Cur-
rent technology has centered around incineration, air stripping, and the
