Quantifying Enhanced Microbial Dehalogenation of Organhalide Mixtures in Contaminated Sediments
Max M. Häggblom(1), Donna E. Fennell(2), Lee J.
Kerkhof(3), Lisa A. Totten(2), Kevin R. Sowers(4),
Young-Beom Ahn(1), Fang Liu(2), Hui Liu(1), Joong-Wook Park(1), Valdis
Krumins(2)
(1) Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey,
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology,
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, USA, 732-932-8750, ext 326 732-932-8965,
haggblom@aesop.rutgers.edu,
ybahn@aesop.rutgers.edu,
huilmb@eden.rutgers.edu,
jwpark@AESOP.Rutgers.edu
(2)Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey,
Department of Environmental Sciences, New Brunswick,
New Jersey, 08901, USA, 732-932-8750, 732-932-8644,
fennell@envsci.rutgers.edu,
fangliu@eden.rutgers.edu,
totten@envsci.rutgers.edu,
krumins@envsci.rutgers.edu
(3) Rutgers the State University of New Jersey,
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, New Brunswick,
New Jersey, 08901, USA, 732-932-6555 ext 335, 732-932-6520, kerkhof@ahab.marine.rutgers.edu
(4) University of Maryland, Center of Marine
Biotechnology, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202 410-234-8878,
410-234-8896, sowers@umbi.umd.edu
The overall objective of this project is to develop site-specific solutions for in situ biodegradation and containment of organohalide mixtures for remediation of contaminated sediments. Specifically, we will: 1) Develop techniques and amendments that enhance microbial dehalogenation in sediments contaminated with organohalide mixtures, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and chlorinated pesticides (CPs); and 2) Develop methods and tools to monitor the effectiveness of the biostimulation processes. Microbial dehalogenation, a reductive (respiratory) process in which the organohalide is the electron acceptor, is a key factor determining the fate of organohalides in sediments. Dehalogenation occurs naturally, but it competes with other microbial processes and rates are often slow. This project builds on recent discoveries about organohalide-dechlorinating bacteria to develop in situ biostimulation amendments (e.g., bioaugmented dechlorinating bacteria, organic electron donors and halogenated co-amendments). A suite of molecular tools are being developed to monitor dehalogenating bacteria and assess the effectiveness of the remediation treatments. Studies are being carried out at the microcosm and mesocosm scale, resulting in a pilot scale field demonstration to identify amendment and stimulatory mixtures and their placement method in conjunction with capping. The effect of sedimentary conditions on the (bio)transformation rates of organohalide mixtures will be determined and the fate and transport of organohalide contaminants, co-amendments and (bio)transformation products under various bioremediation scenarios evaluated. The outcome of this project will be a field-tested toolbox of site assessment and monitoring methods and an initial assessment of the success of in situ stimulation of dehalogenation of organohalide mixtures in sediments.