Assessment of Bioremediation Technologies: Focus on Technologies Suitable forField-Level Demonstrations and Applicable to DoD Contaminants

摘要

Bioremediation is a viable, cost-effective treatment for environmentalcontaminants. Research activities continue to uncover new bioremediation technologies, increasing the need for field-level demonstrations. The goal of this study is to identify bioremediation technologies that have demonstrated viability in laboratory or pilot studies, but require additional field demonstrations to determine the capabilities and limitations of the technology. In selecting technologies that would be of interest to the DoD, the Service-identified research and development priorities for cleanup were considered, and those contaminants amenable to bioremediation were identified. These contaminants included halogenated and non-halogenated hydrocarbons, energetics, and inorganics. Technologies that are promising at either laboratory or pilot scales and are in need of demonstrations for validation under field conditions include bioreactors for the treatment of energetics, in situ anaerobic/aerobic sequential treatment of chlorinated hydrocarbons, constructed wetlands, and white rot fungus. We strongly recommend the first three technologies as candidates for field-level demonstrations; the fourth we recommend less enthusiastically. Beyond our primary recommendations, we make note of two other technologies of interest: microbial mats and systems capable of assessing and monitoring bioremediation activities. (AN).