Flow-through aquifer columns were used to evaluate the efficacy of using benzoate as a biostimulatory substrate to enhance the aerobic biodegradation of benzene, toluene, and o-xylene (BTX), fed continuously at low concentrations (about 0.2 mg/L each). When used as a cosubstrate, benzoate addition (1 mg/L) enhanced BTX degradation kinetics and attenuated BTX breakthrough relative to acetateamended (2 mg/L) or unamended control columns. The benzoate-amended column also experienced an increase in predominance of pseudomonad species capable of degrading BTX. The feasibility of injecting benzoate to enhance the growth of BTX degraders and establish a buffer zone downgradient of a BTX plume was also investigated. Using pristine aquifer material without previous exposure to BTX, aquifer columns were fed benzoate (2 mg/L), acetate (4 mg/L), or mineral medium without supplemental substrates during a 2-day acclimation stage. All columns were subsequently fed BTX alone, and their breakthrough was monitored. Previous exposure to benzoate, but not to acetate, shortened the acclimation period to BTX degradation and enhanced the short-term bioattenuation potential of the indigenous consortium. This suggests that benzoate could potentially be used to establish and sustain in situ reactive zones to attenuate BTX migration and protect downgradient groundwater resources.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.