Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation

At a Glance

 

Regenesis_Icon_Mechanisms Regenesis_Icon_Trackable-Contaminents Regenesis_Icon_Concentration

Mechanism:

Treatable Contaminants:

Concentrations:

Biological Degradation

Microbes metabolize contaminants to survive and grow

Chlorinated VOCs, pesticides, explosives, hexavalent chromium

Treats high to low concentrations

Regenesis_Icon_Time

Regenesis_Icon_Conditions Regenesis_Icon_Applied-Frec

Time:

Conditions:

Applications Frequency:

Longer treatment time

(1-5+ years)

Saturated zone

Every 1-3 years, as needed

Single application common

Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation Overview

Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation is the practice of adding hydrogen to soil and groundwater to increase the number and vitality of indigenous microorganisms performing anaerobic bioremediation on any anaerobically degradable compound. Anaerobic bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, a process also known as reductive dechlorination, is the biologically mediated process by which chlorinated hydrocarbons are degraded under anoxic or anaerobic conditions. During this naturally occurring process, anaerobic microbes substitute hydrogen for chlorine on chlorinated contaminant molecules, thus dechlorinating the compound. Complete reductive dechlorination results in the chlorinated compounds being transformed to non-toxic, dissolved gases such as ethene and ethane.

Enhanced Anaerobic Biodegradation Produces Sequential Chlorinated Contaminant Treatment

Reductive dechlorination typically proceeds at very slow, unstable rates. The use of an electron donor such as 3-D Microemulsion or Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®) can increase the rates of reductive dechlorination up to several orders of magnitude. Under the influence of staged-release hydrogen through 3-D Microemulsion or HRC, the reductive dechlorination process can be sustained for periods of up to 2-5 years depending on subsurface conditions.

Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation is most commonly used for the treatment of chlorinated groundwater contaminants such as industrial degreasing agents like tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, certain pesticides/herbicides, nitro-aromatic explosives, hexavalent chromium, and chlorinated fluorocarbons.

REGENESIS welcomes the opportunity to provide you and your team with the tools you need to successfully plan and execute your next enhanced anaerobic bioremediation project.

If you currently have a project and need a remediation solution now, request a design.

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FAQs about Anaerobic Bioremediation

Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation is the practice of adding hydrogen to soil and groundwater to increase the number and vitality of indigenous microorganisms performing anaerobic bioremediation. In this process, anaerobic microbes substitute hydrogen for chlorine on chlorinated contaminant molecules, dechlorinating the compound. Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation is most commonly used for the treatment of chlorinated groundwater contaminants such as industrial degreasing agents such as chlorinated solvents.

Enhanced anaerobic biodegradation is an effective solution for contaminants such as industrial degreasing agents like tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, certain pesticides/herbicides, nitro-aromatic explosives, hexavalent chromium, and chlorinated fluorocarbons. Enhanced anaerobic biodegredation treatment approaches can last anywhere between 1 and 5 years and commonly require 1 treatment/injection event.

In aerobic bioremediation, microbes utilize oxygen to break down contaminants and in
anaerobic bioremediation the microbes degrade the contaminants in the absence of oxygen.