On-site and in situ bioremediation of wood-preservative contaminated groundwater

This paper reviews ten years of research on on-site and in situ bioremediat ion of chlorophenol contaminated groundwater. Laboratory experiments on the development of a high-rate, fluidized-bed process resulted in a full scale , pump-and-treat application which has operated for several years. The syst em operates at ambient groundwater temperature of 7 to 9 degreesC at 2.7 d hydraulic retention time and chlorophenol removal efficiencies of 98.5 to 9 9.9%. The microbial ecology studies of the contaminated aquifer revealed a diverse chlorophenol-degrading community. In situ biodegradation of chlorop henols is controlled by oxygen availability, only. Laboratory and pilot-sca le experiments showed the potential for in situ aquifer bioremediation with iron oxidation and precipitation as a potential problem.