Lesson learnt during bioremediation of over 150 sites
contaminated with chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in Japan
October 25, 2010

Japan

We do not inherit the earth from our forefathers, we borrow it from our children

Field Experiencez Contaminations: Ethenes –Cl((PCE,, TCE,, DCE)) ,Ethanes‐Cl ( TCA, EDC), Methanes ‐Cl (CT, DCM)
z High concentration: ~ few hundred mg/L
z Low K : <10‐4cm/sec (silty ‐clay)z Largest site: 7 million m3
z Japan, Thaiwan, Thailand, the US, India……..
Ｂ

Biostimulant injection at a CAHs
contaminatedt i t d site
it ini Taiwan
T i
Curtsy: Guan Cheng Enviro Tech Protection Co., Ltd-2-

Remediation Process
Site investigation (Hydrogeology, contamination details etc.)
Microcosm experiment (Optional)
Pilot demonstration
RRemediationdi ti designd iFull scale injection
Post injection monitoring
Site closure-3-

Proper site assessment and investigation are keys for
successful bioremediation
Hydraulic conductivity, GW
behavior, silt lenses etc.

Presence of useful microbes,
Parameters・affecting microbial
growth and process

Hydrogeology
ORP,, pH,p , otherelectron acceptors, ECetc.

Geochemistry

Microbialparameters

Contamination
Sources, concentration,
distribution, cocontaminants etc.

Obtaining data on site hydrogeology, geochemistry and contamination is more
important than just concentrating on microbiology of the site.

Site Investigation
Hydrogeology:• Bore logs, Soil cross sections, Hydraulic conductivity,seepage velocity
velocity, groundwater behavior
behavior, silt lenses,lenses etc.
etc

Contamination Data:• Source (storage/usage/spillage points), pathways like drainage, typeof contamination, concentration , phase partition, Contaminationdistribution, etc.

Geochemistry:• ORP, alternative electron acceptors, pH, etc.

Microbiology• CountC
off usefulf l microbes
i b• Factors affecting microbial development and process(The process is complex for sites that are large, old manufacturing facilities,
near large rivers or sea)

Understand the contaminant !!
Name of Compound! Point-5-! Point

Specific
GravityWatersolubility

Soil/water
distribution, KOC

Vapor Pressure

g/mL

mg/L

-mmHg

Tetrachloroethylene

PCE

1.62

150

265

17.8

Trichloroethylene

TCE

1.46

1,100

94

57.9

Cis, 1,2-dichloroethylenecis-DCE

1.28

3,500

36

208

Higher chlorinated compounds have less solubility. That means
considerable mass remains as residual or free-phase DNAPL
Higher chlorinated compounds are easily adsorbed to organic matter ofthe soils. Therefore sorbed mass is much more than the concentrations
seen in the groundwater

12Understanding the extent of contamination! Point ①! Point ②! Point ③

汚染溜まり

汚染溜まり

Point ① ： Understanding of contamination in the vadose zone is essential to prevent
postt remedial
di l reboundbd iin concentrations
t ti
Point ②：Special attention to clay lenses and organic matters where considerable mass
might be sorbed
Point ③：The extent of groundwater contamination
11

Obtain data on co-contaminantComponents

CautionCounter-measure

Petroleumhydrocarbons

・CAHs dissolve more easily (10～100 times) in oil
than in water・ Plus points: Natural anaerobic conditions, carbon
source, higher microbial populations, advanced
degradation of CAHs

• Obtain data on dissolved mass ins investigation
vs g
the oil dduringg site
• Treat LNAPL before treatingCAHs

Mercury,Cyanideyetc.

・Toxic to the microbial population
・Possibility of volatile or organic mercury formation
・PostPost injection production of Organic acids may
lower GW pH resulting in Cyanide volatilization.

・Treat Hg/CN preferably
Monitor pH carefully・Monitor

Extreme pH

・Lime in dumping pits, cement used for containment,
hot-soilhotsoil (quick(quick-lime)lime) treatment of soil causes high pH
・Leakage of acidic compounds into the ground・Removal before bioremediation
・Adjust pH

Other VOCs

Mixed contamination of Chloroethanes,
Chloromethanes and Chloroethynes
Chloroeth nes have
ha e inhibitory
inhibitor
effect on microbial degradation process

・ Prior risk assessment for highergremedial cost and time

Coastal Areas

・High EC and sulfate contents
・Difficulty in reading groundwater behavior

・Special importance for full scale
injection engineering
18

Case A: Cell‐phone Parts Manufacturer
Near Tokyo, 40,000 m2 X 12 m Plume Size, Active facility, pump and treat on going-9-

The usual and unusual suspects
Source
Plume

Unusual suspects:
Herbicidal applications
Washing hands
V r small
Verym ll unrecordedr rd dspills or disposals

GroundContamination
Ci i ffrom
the drainage pipes

Migration of plume front
Usuall suspects: PU
Pointi off use,
underground storage tanks,
pipes &drainage

What looks on the record may not be accurate13

H dHydrogeologicall i l ModelingM d li- 11 -

Monitoring Well Installation

Top aquifer! Point ⑪
Acquitard
Bottom aquifer

×○Depending
pg on the hydrogeology
y ggy
carefully design the well×○
Telescopep drillingg and properp p pprecautions
to be taken to avoid spread
Contaminants

Sorbed mass21

Propagation
p gof biostimulants in thegroundwater- 13 -Injection well-nests
Packerinjection

GravelFine sandCoarse sand×○Injection well design based on site specific hydrogeology helps uniform propagation ofbiostimulants in the heterogenic aquifer22

I j i SSet‐upInjection

Gravity Injection興亜開発株式会社 提供資料
- 15 -Dehalogenation Process
PCE
CｌTCE
CｌCｌ

Cｌ

H

C C

C C

Cｌ

CｌMicrobes

CｌB

A

Cｌ-DCE

VC

H
H
C CH
H
C CCｌHCｌA

Ｃ

Inorganicg c salt

CCｌEthyleneyH

CｌHA

ＤCｌ-H
C CHＥCCｌStimulating microbial consortium is important than just concentrating on asingle microbial community- 16 -A Site

DHC Count（Not detected）

040.4

400

DHC Count
350/mL0.30.2PCETCE
cis-1,2-DCE

増加

3002000.1

1000.000304560

DHC M
Microbes（No/mL）

度（mg/L）
VOCs濃度

Do not give-up on initial microbial counts

90

EDC注入後 経過日数（日）After the nutrients injection
B SiteDehalococcoides
count

C SiteDehalococcoides
count0 day

45 days

60 days

90 days<40/mL

200/mL--<70/mL<70/mL

450/mL<70/mL

Lower soil organic carbon and contamination levels/ near sea areas: Initial microbial
count might be below detection limit.
27

Trouble Shooting !!!!

Trouble shooting: Befouling; well clogging,
byproduct gas emission, fall in pH etc. are notuncommon.
How to overcome: Use of filters, clean injection
water
t and
d set-up,t
gas extraction,t tipH
H bufferingb ff ietc.

- 18 -

P
Postiinjection
j i PCE iin theh G
Groundwaterd250000

250000200000200000

0.45

2.5

0.4

2

0.35
1.5

150000150000

0.3

1

0.25
0.2

0.5

1000000.4

0.15

100000

0.1
0.3

0.05
0.2

50000

0.1

0.04

50000

0.03
0.02

0.01

050m

0.01

0.001

050m
0.001

50000

10000015000020000025000030000035000040000050000

2004.1.30 (Before injection)

1000001500002000002500003000003500004000002004.12.17（Unit 3 remediation)

2500002000000.02

1500000.015

100000

0.01

50000

0

50000

10000015000020000025000030000050m

3500000.001

4000002005.10.3（Unit 1 remediation)- 19 -

Post injection cis‐DCE in the Groundwater
250000250000200000200000
0.28

0.12
0.24

150000150000
01
0.1

0.2

0.16

1000000.08

100000

0.12

0.06
0.08

50000

50000
0.04

0.04

050000100000

15000020000025000030000050m

350000

0

0 01
0.01

50m
0.004

40000050000

2004.1.30 (Before injection)

1000001500002000002500003000003500004000002004.12.17（Unit 3 remediation)

2500002500002000002000000.12
0.11500000 09
0.09

1500000.06

1000000.05

0.08

100000

0.07
0.06
0.05

50000

0.04

50000
0.04

0

50000

10000015000020000025000030000050m

3500000.004

0400000

0.004

50000

2005.10.3（Unit 1 remediation)

50m

1000001500002000002500003000003500004000002005.10.3（Unit 2 remediation)- 20 -Electronic mgf., Kyushu
Source: dig and disposePartially active facility; Area: 3000 m2; Overburden thickness: 6m,Soil: Silty, sand‐silty ; Contamination: TCE and daughters; Sourcearea was dig and Disposed; GW : Pump and treat on going- 21 -Hydrogeology

4 5～5m：Clay
4.55m：Clay
1.0～1.5m: sandy silt
3.5～4.0m: Gravel with silt
5.5～6.0m: Gravel with clay

Particle size analysis
Curtsy: New Japan Grout Corp.
- 22 -Injection with Direct Push Technology

Sturm Ruger,
g ,NH, USA

Wyman‐Gordon
yGrafton, Massachusetts, USA

GeoProbe 6610-DT
6610 DT track rig
à2.3 GPM capacity pump, with pressures up to ~1,000 PSI- 23 -

Double Packer Injection•Injection points are designed based on
distributioni b
off contamination• Injection pressure, dilution etc. depend onhydrogeology• Precautions taken to avoid short‐circuit- 24 -

Bioremediation where pump and treat no longer works
Pump and Treat was noteffective because ofsorbed residual mass andlow K

EDC Injection

Post remedial monitoring(2 yrs. Mandatory inJapan)

Bioremediation

濃度［mgg/ℓ］

3.02.5TCE

2.01.51.0050.500.12濃度度［mg/ℓ］0 100.10

1年

2年

3年

4年

5年

cis-1,2-DCE

0.08
0.06
0.04

Environ. Std. 0.04mg/ℓ

0.02
0- 25 -Summary• Site assessment and investigation are vial parts• Knowing
Ki hydrogeology
h dl
andd contaminationt i ti is
i more importantit tthan obtaining data on site microbiology for developing
bioremediation designs• Remedial design varies depending on site hydrogeology,
contamination data, geochemistry, site usage, budget, etc., andevolve over the coarse of remediation process• Properp pprecautions can avoid common trouble shootingsg• Bioremediation implementation based on scientific and sitespecific facts can save huge $.
$- 26 -Contact
Marketing:Young-Chang Chen 陳永昌
Mitsubishi Corporation (Taiwan)
Ltd.
TEL: 886TEL
886-2-2508-9189
2 2508 9189
young-chang.chen@mitsubishicorp.com

Technical:Dr. P.S. Reddy
EcoCycle Corporation
939-8064, Toyama city, Akada
694-2,694
2, JapanTel: +81-76-420-3122
Fax: +81-76-420-3161
psreddy@ecocycle co jp
psreddy@ecocycle.co.jp

We do not inherit the earth from our forefathers,
forefathers we borrow it from our children- 27 -