BIOREMEDIATION OF MTBE THROUGH AEROBIC BIODEGRADATION AND COMETABOLISM

摘要

A laboratory-scale microcosm study was conducted to determine whether site-specific soil microbes could biodegrade methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) under anaerobic, aerobic, or cometabolic conditions. Microcosms were constructed using soils and groundwater from both the Department of Defense Housing Facility (DoDHF) Novato, California, and the naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme (NBVC), California. Aerobic and cometabolic conditions were investigated with and without nitrate addition. Cometabolism was investigated using either propane or butane gas as a primary growth substrate. The laboratory results indicated that MTBE could be biodegraded under aerobic conditions at each site. Overall, cometabolic growth substrates did not enhance or stimulate MTBE biodegradation. Nitrate was required for cometabolic degradation, and anaerobic biodegradation was not observed. In situ bioremediation through aerobic air sparging appears to be a potential remediation treatment for consideration at the DoDHF Novato and NBVC PH sites.