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Published on: September 11, 2016
Elucidating the microbial component of natural attenuation
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3037, USA. barth.smets@uconn.edu
Abstract:
Microbial reactions are a key determinant in natural attenuation. However, providing unequivocal evidence of the extent of their involvement is challenging. Several approaches are being developed to meet this challenge, including the use of contaminant-specific transformation products, carbon- or hydrogen-based stable isotopic analysis and reactive transport modeling. These approaches emphasize the ongoing need to integrate strategically between temporally and spatially variant geochemical conditions, the ecological characteristics of the resident microbial communities and their resultant pollutant-transformation capabilities.
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