THE EFFECT OF OXYGEN EXPOSURE ON THE METHANOGENIC ACTIVITY OF AN ANAEROBIC BACTERIAL CONSORTIUM

Due to industrial, agricultural, and defense operations, chlorinated s olvents, and their natural transformation products, have been found in drinking water, wastewater, and ground water throughout the industria lized world [1]. Further, such compounds represent the most prevalent organic groundwater contaminants in the U.S. [2]. Because many are pri ority pollutants and/or suspected carcinogens or mutagens, the movemen t, transformation, and fate of these contaminants in the environment i s of interest [3]. For these compounds, in situ bioremediation has the potential to substantially reduce cleanup duration and cost, when com pared with traditional pump-and-treat technologies [4].