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Evaluation of microbial transport during aerobic bioaugmentation of an RDX-contaminated aquifer

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Abstract

In situ bioaugmentation with aerobic hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)-degrading bacteria is being considered for treatment of explosives-contaminated groundwater at Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon (UMCD). Two forced-gradient bacterial transport tests of site groundwater containing chloride or bromide tracer and either a mixed culture of Gordonia sp. KTR9 (xplA +KmR), Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 (pGKT2 transconjugant; xplA +KmR) and Pseudomonas fluorescens I-C (xenB +), or a single culture of Gordonia sp. KTR9 (xplA +; i.e. wild-type) were conducted at UMCD. Groundwater monitoring evaluated cell viability and migration in the injection well and downgradient monitoring wells. Enhanced degradation of RDX was not evaluated in these demonstrations. Quantitative PCR analysis of xplA, the kanamycin resistance gene (aph), and xenB indicated that the mixed culture was transported at least 3 m within 2 h of injection. During a subsequent field injection of bioaugmented groundwater, strain KTR9 (wild-type) migrated up to 23-m downgradient of the injection well within 3 days. Thus, the three RDX-degrading strains were effectively introduced and transported within the UMCD aquifer. This demonstration represents an innovative application of bioaugmentation to potentially enhance RDX biodegradation in aerobic aquifers.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) under project ER-201207 “Bioaugmentation for Bioremediation of Aerobic RDX-Contaminated Groundwater”. Views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of Defense position or decision unless so designated by other official documentation.

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Author notes

  1. Mandy M. Michalsen

    Present address: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Seattle, WA, 98134, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA

    Fiona H. Crocker, Karl J. Indest, Carina M. Jung & Dawn E. Hancock

  2. CB&I Federal Services, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA

    Mark E. Fuller, Paul B. Hatzinger & Simon Vainberg

  3. School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Jonathan D. Istok

  4. Environmental Engineering & Technology Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, WA, 98134, USA

    Edward Wilson & Mandy M. Michalsen

Authors
  1. Fiona H. Crocker
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  2. Karl J. Indest
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  3. Carina M. Jung
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  4. Dawn E. Hancock
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  5. Mark E. Fuller
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  6. Paul B. Hatzinger
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  7. Simon Vainberg
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  8. Jonathan D. Istok
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Correspondence to Fiona H. Crocker.

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Crocker, F.H., Indest, K.J., Jung, C.M. et al. Evaluation of microbial transport during aerobic bioaugmentation of an RDX-contaminated aquifer. Biodegradation 26, 443–451 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-015-9746-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-015-9746-1

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