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Microbial Community Structure During Optimization of TCE Degradation
The size and structural changes of the microbial community will be examined as a TCE optimization study is conducted. The primary multi-lab study will look at various factors affecting anaerobic reductive dechlorination in microcosms. This microcosm data will be used in the remediation of soil from a chlorinated solvent source area or areas contaminated by dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPL). The microcosm study will evaluate several variables such as: six different electron donors, effect of bioaugmentation, the concentration of TCE, and nutrient amendments. While this multi-lab study is on-going, the size and structural changes of the microbial community will be determined by PLFA FAME. The microbial community information will be used to make sure that all labs start with the same microbial soil structure. The microbial data will be used to determine what effect the different treatments had. This data may give insight as to why certain sets of conditions performed better than others at dechlorination based on microbial structure. Microbial structure will be used to confirm that similar treatments at different labs have the same effect on the microbial community.
Contact: Ronald Herrmann, 513/569-7741; Carolyn Acheson, 513/569-7190, (EIMS#116431)