What's New?

USGS-GeoSyntec Collaborate for Bioremedation Technology Advancement:

The USGS and GeoSyntec Consultants signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to collaborate on the further development of an in situ bioremediation technology application that combines bioaugmentation with an engineered mat to passively treat contaminated Groundwater in discharge areas. Research hydrologist Michelle Lorah and hydrologist Emily Majcher of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center and their colleagues pilot tested the approach at the Edgewood area of Aberdeen Proving Ground at an area where chlorinated solvents seep into a creek. The targeted exposure-point technology is expected to contribute to the field of in situ remediation, particularly in riverine, wetland, and coastal environments.

Factsheet

USGS and GeoSyntec Consultants sign CRADA to collaborate on development of new In Situ Bioremediation Technology

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) Click to view pdf version.

Summary of Current Activites

Development of WBC-2 and the Reactive Mat for Treatment of Chlorinated VOC's in Groundwater at APG:

Groundwater impacted with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TeCA), chlorinated methanes, and chlorinated ethenes discharges in localized seep areas into surface water at the West Branch Canal Creek area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In situ treatment of Groundwater in the shallow aquifer presents substantial technical challenges. The wetlands surrounding West Branch Canal Creek have been previously shown to support the natural degradation of TeCA and other chlorinated aliphatics as they migrate from the groundwater through wetland sediments; however, similar activity was not observed in high flow seep areas. Seep areas are considered sources of surface-water contamination.

Working under complementary agreements with Aberdeen Proving Ground, the USGS enriched a consortium of microbes (WBC-2) capable of degrading TeCA and other chlorinated aliphatics. GeoSyntec propagated it to provide large quantities for bioaugmentation into various treatment programs for TeCA degradation.

Following laboratory and field investigations, WBC-2 was deployed in a reactive mat constructed at a seep in West Branch Canal Creek. The mat was designed to passively intercept and degrade the VOC at the seep surface. The reactive mat is an engineered, multicomponent, horizontal, permeable, biologically active mat that was bioaugmented with WBC-2 for chlorinated ethane and ethene treatment. The mat includes a system for re-amendment of the biologically reactive layer with electron donor or WBC-2 if needed. Multilevel sampling points were installed underneath and through the reactive mat to evaluate performance. Preliminary results suggest the mass removal of VOCs through the mat exceeds 95 percent.

Work performed by USGS at the site provided a feasible alternative for cleanup of chlorinated VOCs within the sensitive wetland ecosystem. The targeted exposure point treatment is expected to have transferability to other wetland, estuarine, riverine, and coastal environments

Click here for pdf version.

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