Characterization of Iron-Bearing Solids Used by Naturally-Occurring Microbes in the Anaerobic Degradation of Hydrocarbons
Abstract
This study investigated the availability of iron-bearing minerals for use by naturally-occurring, iron-reducing microbes in the anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbon groundwater contaminants during a field experiment at Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus, Mississippi. While this research could find no statistically significant changes in the iron oxides in the aquifer material over time, this work did produce three important findings. First, the natural consortium of bacteria is shown to degrade hydrocarbons in a reducing environment in the presence of iron oxides. Second, there appears to be some consumption of the iron oxides during natural attenuation near the source emplacement. Third, formation of magnetite cannot be used as a primary indicator of microbial degradation in the field, since laboratory studies showed that magnetite was produced by both biotic and abiotic systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388065
Entities
People
- David C. Powell
Organizations
- Tennessee Valley Authority