A client was experiencing a failure of the contaminant degradation in the bioremediation of a UST. A twofold testing design was proposed to indicate probable concentration of NO3 enhancement believed to be the exhausted agent. A battery of nutrient testing was performed as well. To augment the fieldwork, a comparison was requested showing successful respiration activity only of a groundwater currently being monitored on another site for accelerated natural attenuation.
Respirometric data indicated that the addition of NO3substantially elevated respiration and contaminant degradation, as seen in the reactors, concentrations 1, concentration 2, and concentrations 3. Analytical data indicated an increased removal rate of the BTEX, no change in MTBE, and an adequate reduction of TBA compounds. (See Enhancement Assessment Data Table below)
In contrast, the accelerated natural attenuation biographs (reactors 13,14,15,16) indicated the increased respiration attainable in the analogous site.
The client successfully reestablished the contaminant degradation rate to previously observed rates. This was accomplished within a short time frame due to the optimum dose determination and reaction kinetics data respirometrically generated.
