ABSTRACT

A significant body of literature supports the validity of enhancing biological reductive dechlorination with organic substrates that are fermented to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen then supplies electrons that are used by microorganisms in the benign transformation of a wide range of chlorinated hydrocarbons and selected inorganic compounds such as Perchlorate. Implementation of an appropriate time-release electron donor system can eliminate major design, capital and operational costs, is minimally invasive and is invisible during the working phase. Also, some researchers believe that lower hydrogen partial pressures in the aquifer, that can be facilitated by a controlled release technology, may favor reductive dechlorination over methanogenesis.