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Modern geochemical and molecular tools for monitoring in-situ biodegradation of MTBE and TBA

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Abstract

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a major gasoline oxygenate worldwide and a widespread groundwater contaminant. Natural attenuation of MTBE is of practical interest as a cost effective and non-invasive approach to remediation of contaminated sites. The effectiveness of MTBE attenuation can be difficult to demonstrate without verification of the occurrence of in-situ biodegradation. The aim of this paper is to discuss the recent progress in assessing in-situ biodegradation. In particular, compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), molecular techniques based on nucleic acids analysis and in-situ application of stable isotope labels will be discussed. Additionally, attenuation of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) is of particular interest, as this compound tends to occur alongside MTBE introduced from the gasoline or produced by (mainly anaerobic) biodegradation of MTBE.

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  1. School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street Suite 810, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Tomasz Kuder & Paul Philp

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  1. Tomasz Kuder
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Kuder, T., Philp, P. Modern geochemical and molecular tools for monitoring in-situ biodegradation of MTBE and TBA. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 7, 79–91 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-007-9123-6

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