Subsurface Biofilm Barriers for the Containment and Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater
Titel:
Subsurface Biofilm Barriers for the Containment and Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater
Auteur:
Cunningham, Alfred B. Sharp, Robert R. Hiebert, Randy James, Garth
Verschenen in:
Bioremediation journal
Paginering:
Jaargang 7 (2003) nr. 3-4 pagina's 151-164
Jaar:
2003-07
Inhoud:
An engineered microbial biofilm barrier capable of reducing aquifer hydraulic conductivity while simultaneously biodegrading nitrate has been developed and tested at a field-relevant scale. The 22-month demonstration project was conducted at the MSE Technology Applications Inc. test facility in Butte, Montana, which consisted of a 130 ft wide, 180 ft long, 21 ft deep, polyvinylchloride (PVC)-lined test cell, with an initial hydraulic conductivity of 4.2 × 10-2 cm/s. A flow field was established across the test cell by injecting water upgradient while simultaneously pumping from an effluent well located approximately 82 ft down gradient. A 30 ft wide biofilm barrier was developed along the centerline of the test cell by injecting a starved bacterial inoculum of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CPC211a, followed by injection of a growth nutrient mixture composed of molasses, nitrate, and other additives. A 99% reduction of average hydraulic conductivity across the barrier was accomplished after three months of weekly or bi-weekly injections of growth nutrient. Reduced hydraulic conductivity was maintained by additional nutrient injections at intervals ranging from three to ten months. After the barrier was in place, a sustained concentration of 100 mg/l nitrate nitrogen, along with a 100 mg/l concentration of conservative (chloride) tracer, was added to the test cell influent over a six-month period. At the test cell effluent the concentration of chloride increased to about 80 mg/l while the effluent nitrate concentration varied between 0.0 and 6.4 mg/l.