FURI | Spring 2022

Enhanced Control of Microbial Cometabolism of Organic Pollutants

Trichloroethene (TCE) is a ubiquitous groundwater contaminant worldwide. Aerobic cometabolism is a possible bioremediation approach for diffuse TCE plumes. This research evaluates TCE cometabolism (using propane and oxygen as substrates) in the presence or absence of acetylene and 1,4-dioxane. Acetylene is a microbial inhibitor that could be used to decrease biomass production and minimize bioclogging in situ while 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant at TCE contaminated sites.