Bioremediation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE)

The bioremediation project is a bench-scale microcosm study to determine if biodegradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is possible using native bacteria from a contaminated site. Emulsified soybean oil is used as the food source for the bacteria and acts as an electron donor to promote degradation of PCE through reductive dechlorination. The microcosms consist of soil from the contaminated site, artificial groundwater to provide the nutrients needed for bacteria, the emulsified soybean oil and a spike of the contaminant, PCE.  The concentration of PCE and its degradants in the microcosms are measured using solid phase microextraction (spme) with GC-MS to determine if bioremediation is occurring in the microcosms.

Research Team

Funding