Systems and methods for microbial reductive dechlorination of environmental contaminants
AssigneesUniversity of Massachusetts, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsDerek R. Lovley, Sarah Strycharz, Frank Loeffler
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Abstract
In preferred embodiments, bioremediation systems are provided that comprise electricigenic microbes that use electrons provided directly from the anode of an electrical bioremediation system to carry out reductive dehalogenation of halogenated hydrocarbon contaminants, including chlorinated solvents. The present invention also provides methods of performing in situ bioremediation of halogenated solvents in groundwater or soil through the use of the provided systems.
Claims36
A bioremediation system comprising an anodal source electrode and a cathodal counter electrode, both electrodes being operably connected to an electrical power supply, and both electrodes being placed in electrical contact with a soil and/or a groundwater, and a microorganism biocatalyst comprising an electricigenic microbe that can use electrons directly from the anodal source electrode to carry out a reductive dehalogenation of a contaminant that is present in the soil and/or groundwater.
A carbon electrode comprising a microorganism biocatalyst comprising an electricigenic microbe selected from a strain of a Geobacter species or a strain of an Anaeromyxobacter species, wherein the electricigenic microbe is present in an amount sufficient to reductively dehalogenate a halogenated solvent when configured as an anode in a circuit in which electric current flows through a liquid containing the halogenated solvent.
A method for in situ bioremediation of a halogenated contaminant that is present in a contaminant source zone, the contaminant source zone having a soil, a groundwater or both a soil and a groundwater, comprising:
- placing a bioremediation system in the contaminant source zone, the bioremediation system comprising
- an anode and a cathode electrically connected to an electrical power supply, both electrodes being placed in electrical contact with the soil and/or the groundwater, and
- a microorganism biocatalyst comprising an electricigenic microbe that uses electrons provided directly from the anode to carry out a reductive dehalogenation of the halogenated contaminant in the soil and/or groundwater of the contaminant source zone;
- and
- causing electric current to flow to provide electrons from the anode to the microorganism biocatalyst to produce a reductive dehalogenation of the halogenated contaminant, thereby providing in situ bioremediation in a contaminant source zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.