Field Demonstration of In Situ Perchlorate Bioremediation at Building 1419
Abstract
The Applied Technology Department at the Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center and Shaw Environmental, Inc., have just successfully completed a field demonstration of in situ bioremediation of a groundwater aquifer contaminated with perchlorate. Using a recirculation cell design, naturally occurring microorganisms were stimulated to degrade perchlorate by injecting a food source (lactate) and neutralizing the groundwater acidity with a carbonate buffer. Starting with perchlorate concentrations in excess of 210 mg/L, perchlorate levels were reduced by more than 95% in eight of the nine test plot monitoring wells over the 5 months of sampling. In two of the monitoring wells, the perchlorate levels were lowered to less than 5 ppb. In addition to the perchlorate levels and the pH, alkalinity, nitrate, and sulfate concentrations were measured. In situ bioremediation techniques are much less expensive and significantly lower in maintenance than traditional ex situ pump-and-treat systems. This is the first field trial conducted on the east coast of the United States, the first trial performed in an acidic aquifer, and the first demonstration of treating in situ perchlorate levels in excess of 200 mg/L. This project provides new and valuable information concerning the application of bioremediation for in situ perchlorate treatment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 22, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA421555
Entities
People
- Carey Yates
- Jay D. Shaw
- Paul B. Hatzinger
- Randall J. Cramer
Organizations
- Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division