research project details
Project Title: Biodegradation of Subsurface Pollutants by Chlorate- Respiring Microorganisms
Investigator(s): Bruce
Logan
Sponsor: National
Science Foundation
Abstract:
The objective of research is to continue determination of the feasibility of using microorganisms
capable of using chlorate as an electron acceptor in their metabolic processes for decontamination
of soil and aquifers. The investigators plan on studying chlorate-based microbial respiration in
contrast with molecular oxygen pathways by use of respiratory inhibitors to dissect the electron
transport chain. Soil and aquifer contaminants to be investigated in this research for determination
of their biodegradability by chlorate-respiring microorganisms include toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene,
naphthalene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorophenol, chlorobenzoate, benzene, pentane and phenol. The
contemplated decontamination process based on results of the proposed research would involve simultaneous
injection of chlorates and chlorate-respiring organisms into the contaminated soil or aquifer.
Results of this project are expected to provide the basis for its potential application in engineering
design of a system to decontaminate soil and groundwater aquifers by use of sodium chlorate as
a source of respiratory oxygen under conditions that prevent or inhibit use of oxygen from atmospheric
sources. In contrast to other potential chemical electron acceptors such as nitrates and sulfates,
byproducts of which are potential groundwater pollutants, the only byproduct of biochemical chlorate
utilization is the chloride ion.