Applying Innovative Diagnostic Tools at New Jersey Publicly Funded Sites: Research Project Summary
Date
2016-08
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Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health
Abstract
This project demonstrated the use of Environmental Molecular Diagnostic Tools (EMDs) for detecting microbial
biodegradation of contaminants and identifying bacteria responsible for contaminant biodegradation or biotransformation
at three contaminated sites in New Jersey. These sites were unique based on the contamination present, and EMDs
were selected to address a particular issue at each site.
EMDs is a collective term that describes a group of advanced and emerging techniques used to analyze biological and
chemical characteristics of soils, sediments, groundwater, and surface water. Many of these tools were originally
developed for applications in medicine, defense, and industry. Over the last decade, great advances have been made in
adapting and applying EMDs for site characterization, remediation, monitoring, and closure. EMDs are important and
valuable because they can provide key information not available using traditional analytical methods (e.g., groundwater
analysis for volatile organic compounds). While they are intended to complement these traditional methods, EMDs can
bring a new perspective to all stages in the environmental management decision-making process.
As a result of this work, a bio-augmentation/bio-stimulation design was developed for an organic solvent plume at one
site. At a second site, Stable Isotope Probing (SIP) was used to confirm the presence of dehalogenating organisms and
bio-stimulation demonstrated rapid reductive dechlorination. Finally, aniline degrading organisms were studied using
SIP. Aniline biodegradation was demonstrated and the specific bacteria responsible for biodegradation were identified.
Description
Prepared by Robert Mueller.
Keywords
New Jersey