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Natural Gradient Drift Tests for Assessing the Feasibility of In Situ Aerobic Cometabolism of Trichloroethylene and Evaluating the Microbial Community Change

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop a method for using the single-well natural gradient drift test (SWNGDT) in the field to assess in situ aerobic cometabolism of trichloroethylene (TCE) and to analyze microbial community changes. The SWNGDT was performed in a monitoring well installed in a TCE-contaminated aquifer in Wonju, South Korea. The natural gradient drift biostimulation test (NGDBT) and surrogate test (NGDST) were performed by injecting dissolved solutes (bromide (a tracer), toluene (a growth substrate), ethylene (a nontoxic surrogate substrate to probe for TCE transformation activity), dissolved oxygen (DO, an electron acceptor), and nitrate (nutrient)) into the aquifer. Push–pull blocking tests (PPBT) were also performed to examine whether the monooxygenase of toluene oxidizers is involved in the degradation of toluene and the transformation of ethylene. Through the NGDBT, NGDST, and PPBT, we confirmed that the addition of toluene and oxygen in these field tests stimulated indigenous toluene utilizers to cometabolize aerobically TCE, with the following results: (1) the observed simultaneous utilization of toluene and DO; (2) the transformation of ethylene to ethylene oxide and propylene to propylene oxide; and (3) the transformation of TCE. Furthermore, the results of restriction fragment length polymorphism suggested that the microbial community shifts and the microbes capable of transforming TCE are stimulated by injecting the growth substrate, toluene.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a research grant from the Korea Ministry of Environment (2003–2004). This article has not been reviewed by the agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp., Incheon, South Korea

    Chulyoon Ha

  2. SK Energy Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea

    Namhee Kim

  3. Greentech Environmental Consulting Co., Seoul, South Korea

    Hoowon Park

  4. Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University, Seoul, South Korea

    Soo Youl Kwon

  5. Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Jochiwon-Eup, Choongnam, South Korea

    Heung-Shick Lee

  6. Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University, Jochiwon-Eup, Choongnam, South Korea

    Ui Jeon Hong, Sungpyo Kim & Young Kim

  7. Research Institute for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Department, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

    Sunhwa Park

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  1. Chulyoon Ha
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Correspondence to Young Kim.

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Ha, C., Kim, N., Park, H. et al. Natural Gradient Drift Tests for Assessing the Feasibility of In Situ Aerobic Cometabolism of Trichloroethylene and Evaluating the Microbial Community Change. Water Air Soil Pollut 219, 353–364 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0712-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0712-6

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