Isotopic and Molecular Techniques for determining the efficiency of in-situ Bioremediation and chemical Oxidation of chlorinated compounds (IMOTEC-BOX)
The present project constitutes a step forward from previous studies developed by the host organisations (University of Barcelona (MAIMA) and GIRO Technological Centre) at a fractured bedrock aquifer polluted with chlorinated solvents in Odena, Catalonia, Spain. The site exhibited a high complexity due to the presence of multiple contaminant sources (underground tanks and waste disposal facilities) and numerous fractures. The presence of several chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) as main contaminants was related to the activity of a former chemical plant.
Previous studies helped to distinguish two different Areas of future action: (1) where geochemical conditions seems not suitable for microbial dechlorination processes, a decrease of contaminant mass was observed without significant isotopic changes versus (2) the part of the aquifer under more reducing conditions where biodegradation processes have been identified by the shifts of the δ13C data for TCE and PCE and a higher presence of their metabolite cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE).
In this framework, two different Remediation strategies are planned: (1) In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) and (2) bioremediation, respectively. IMOTEC-BOX aims to determine the efficiency of these two approaches from laboratory to field scale by the application of innovative stable isotopic and molecular tools.
Project Objectives:
a) Evaluation of different oxidation reactions to realize potentiality and limitations at field scale.
b) Better understanding of the biodegradation/metabolic processes occurring naturally in the aquifer.
c) Evaluation of the impact of the addition of different electron acceptors/donors on the indigenous microbial community composition and the rates of biodegradation for potential in situ biostimulation.
d) Tracking the efficiency of the selected remediation techniques at field scale by isotopic fractionation and molecular biomarkers.
- Expedient : IMOTEC-BOXFP7. proposal n° 293808
- Entitats participants: MAIMA (Universitat de Barcelona; GIRO Centre Tecnològic; UFZ
(Alemania). - Investigador Principal: Monica Rossell (Universitat Barcelona). Del GIRO: Marc Viñas.
