Seminar: Dr. Birthe Veno Kjellerup (University of Maryland College Park)

Title: Bioremediation: There is always a time and a place for biofilms

Speaker: Dr. Birthe Veno Kjellerup (University of Maryland College Park)

Host: Dr. Sook Chung

Abstract: Access to clean drinking water is an important human right, which is threatened many places in the US and in countries around the world. Trichloroethene (TCE) is a common and toxic groundwater contaminant impacting millions of people thus development of cheap and accessible materials to sustainably remediate contaminated groundwater is important. In this study, we discuss considerations for how biofilm-based bioremediation can be implemented for in situ clean-up. We investigate if upcycled organic waste products can promote biofilm formation and also enhance TCE bioremediation in a contaminated groundwater site. In the field, a trench was installed that was made up by organic waste products from biosolids, limestone, and biochar. Field monitoring of water quality parameters was compared with microbial community changes obtained by analyzing soil samples collected from the site before and nine months after installation. The post-treatment results showed that the TCE concentration had decreased significantly from up-gradient the trench to below the detection limit down-gradient with simultaneous identification of TCE biodegradation products showing that dechlorination occurred in the trench. These findings corresponded with the presence of bacteria present in biofilm in the amended trench on this site.

Contact imetdirectorsoffice@umces.edu for meeting information.