Stable Isotopic Investigations of In-Situ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Organic Solvents

摘要

The research objectives of this program are threefold: to develop methods for measuring stable isotope ratios of carbon and chlorine in chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs); to apply these methods to experimental determinations of kinetic and equilibrium isotope effects during biological, chemical, and physical transformation of CAHs; and to apply these methods to CAHs extracted from ground water at well characterized, contaminated aquifer sites. The overall objective is to develop an understanding of the environmental isotopic behavior of CAHs and to apply this understanding to better characterize, monitor, and evaluate natural and engineered bioremediation. This is an important problem because of the magnitude and frequency of ground water contamination by CAHs and the resultant health risks imposed to the population, as well as the enormous costs involved in cleaning up such contamination. This project is innovative as it represents the first systematic effort of its kind. Since its inception, a number of other scientists have also started research into the stable isotope chemistry of CAHs in both laboratory and field investigations . Complementary experimental and theoretical studies of the equilibrium stabilities and kinetics of CAH degradation by microbial and abiotic mechanisms continue to be a major field of research.