Passive Groundwater Treatment - Gasoline

In an effort to determine whether the microbes could efficiently degrade dissolved-phase petroleum compounds in situ and following approval by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Progress injected the bioremedial product into a two-inch monitoring well using a five-foot, one-inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe with 0.10 slotted screen. Groundwater samples collected from the monitoring well have exhibited persistent, elevated dissolved-phase petroleum groundwater contamination. The goal was to introduce microbes into the contaminant plume to facilitate petroleum degradation. Following injection, A groundwater sample was collected from the monitoring well to be analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by Standard Method 6200B including ethanol, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and isopropyl ether (IPE). In addition, groundwater samples were collected for analysis via heterotrophic plate count (HPC), to estimate the number of live culturable heterotrophic bacteria in water. The results of the subsequent groundwater sampling activities after 60 days since the initial injection: 

• Benzene decreased 64%; 

• Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylenes (Total BTEX) decreased 72%; and, 

• Methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) decreased 70%. 

Please note, each of the targeted compounds have demonstrated a significant decrease since the implementation of the injection activities, indicating the blend of microbes is efficient at degrading a broad spectrum of petroleum based compounds.