The maximum contaminant level, or regulatory limit for California, is 5 ppb. Higher levels are considered hazardous to human health. It s also one of the most difficult contaminants to remove. Soybean oil injection is a promising new technology for delivering a noninvasive and cost-effective solution to TCE cleanup.
Soybean oil promotes the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
Anaerobic bacteria are capable of survival in the absence of free oxygen. The technology exploits the bacteria s need to constantly eat and respire. Once the emulsion is injected, these naturally occurring bacteria begin to eat the soybean oil. This results in breaking down the TCE into a nonhazardous by-product, which is no longer a threat to the environment or those nearby. Inc. They lead a team of environmental scientists and engineers who are demonstrating the technology for the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, which is funding the project.