NATURAL ATTENUATION IN A PAH/BTEX PLUME: THE IMPACT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

摘要

The investigations focus on the microbial Natural Attenuation processes in the plume of a gasworks residues disposal site. Twenty multi-level-wells covering the whole plume were installed to examine the three-dimensional distribution of microorganisms, pollutants, electron acceptors, and nutrients. First results of the field monitoring programme indicate different microbial respiration processes in the plume, i.e. nitrate, Fe(III) and sulfate reduction. However, the reduction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) in the plume could not be related to specific metabolic processes on the basis of the field data alone. Additional microcosm studies are recommended and currently performed.