Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

In situ MTBE biodegradation supported by diffusive oxygen release.

Ryan D Wilson1, Douglas M Mackay, Kate M Scow

  • 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. rdwilson@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca

Environmental Science & Technology
|February 6, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Native aerobic microbes effectively degrade methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) when oxygen is supplied in situ. This method rapidly reduced MTBE contamination in groundwater, showing promise for environmental cleanup.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Impact of biochar on plant growth and uptake of ciprofloxacin, triclocarban and triclosan from biosolids.

Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes·2020
Same author

Biochar amendment as a remediation strategy for surface soils impacted by crude oil.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2020
Same author

Impact of Irrigation Strategies on Tomato Root Distribution and Rhizosphere Processes in an Organic System.

Frontiers in plant science·2020
Same author

Yields and resilience outcomes of organic, cover crop, and conventional practices in a Mediterranean climate.

Scientific reports·2019
Same author

Deep soil inventories reveal that impacts of cover crops and compost on soil carbon sequestration differ in surface and subsurface soils.

Global change biology·2019
Same author

The century experiment: the first twenty years of UC Davis' Mediterranean agroecological experiment.

Ecology·2018

Area of Science:

  • Environmental science
  • Microbiology
  • Environmental engineering

Background:

  • Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a common groundwater contaminant.
  • Anaerobic conditions often limit MTBE biodegradation in plumes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in situ biodegradation of MTBE by stimulating native microorganisms.
  • To assess the effectiveness of oxygen delivery for creating aerobic treatment zones.

Main Methods:

  • Field experiments using oxygen-releasing polymeric tubing in MTBE-contaminated groundwater.
  • Monitoring MTBE concentrations and degradation rates within the induced aerobic zone.
  • Utilizing tracer tests to confirm groundwater flow and treatment zone integrity.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • MTBE concentrations decreased from hundreds to below 10 microg/L.
  • Biodegradation was confirmed as the primary loss mechanism, with insignificant abiotic loss.
  • Degradation initiation lag time was less than 2 months, with pseudo-first-order rates of 4.4–8.6 day(-1).
  • Oxygen availability indicated potential for treating even higher MTBE concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • In situ oxygen release effectively stimulates native microbial degradation of MTBE.
  • Permeable aerobic treatment zones can be created to remediate MTBE contamination.
  • This approach offers a viable strategy for in situ groundwater treatment.