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Microbial Community Structure During Trichloroethylene (TCE) Degradation Optimization

The basic premise of dechlorination is that PCE > TCE > cDCE > VC > Ethene.
The size and structural changes of the microbial community will be examined as researchers conduct a trichloroethylene (TCE) optimization study. The primary multi-lab study will examine various factors effecting 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 like six different electron donors, effect of bioaugmentation, the concentration of TCE, and nutrient amendments. The size and structural changes of the microbial community will be determined by PLFAFAME. The microbial community information will be used to ensure that all labs begin studies with the same microbial soil structure. The microbial data will be used to determine the effects of different treatments. This data may provide insight regarding why certain sets of conditions, based on microbial structure, performed dechlorination better than others. Microbial structure will be used to confirm that similar treatments at different labs have the same effect on the microbial community.

Contacts: Ronald Herrmann; Carolyn Acheson (EIMS#116431)

Office of Research & Development | National Risk Management Research Laboratory


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