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Volume 7, Issue 2 (Suppl)
J Ecosyst Ecography, an open access journal
ISSN:2157-7625
September 18-20, 2017
September 18-20, 2017 Toronto, Canada
Joint Conference
International Conference on
International Conference on
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
&
Ecology and Ecosystems
In-situ
regeneration of carbon based injectants with endemic biofilms
Dennis Owens
Sustainable Water Technology, Canada
Background Statement:
Activated carbon (AC) has long been used to remove organic impurities from liquids and air. Generally, in
the environmental field, we store AC inside vessels and then pump groundwater or air, contaminated with volatile organics, through
the carbon vessel. This process injects AC into the contaminated mass itself to remediate the contaminants
in-situ
. AC has an affinity
for organic chemicals, such as petroleum hydrocarbons, and organic chemicals will physically bond (absorb) to the micropores of the
AC through Van der Waals forces. Once the chemicals are adsorbed to the carbon’s surface, the process generally can be reversed only
by heating the carbon to very high temperatures, by use of a solvent, or through microbial processes. AC has been found to remain
stable under extreme environmental conditions for long periods of time. The purpose of this study is to evaluate methods to stimulate
biofilm formation to regenerate
in-situ
AC.
Methodology:
Laboratory contaminated soil columns are injected with AC and various additives to stimulate biofilm formation
throughout the AC. Each different soil type was then evaluated for types of microorganisms forming the biofilm and their effectiveness
in regenerating the AC.
Findings:
Different soil types produced the same basic biofilms composed of the same four basic organisms predominating with
various subcultures specific to the area and soil type. All biofilms could regenerate the AC
in-situ
.
Conclusion:
Biofilms can be formed
in-situ
within the AC area and in the process of biofilm formation the AC is regenerated for
continuous remediation
in-situ
. Cost implications are significant for this remedial tool.
Biography
Dennis Owens is the president and senior chemist/microbiologist at Sustainable Water Technology. He has worked in the environmental remedial field since 1985
developing and commercializing remediation technologies for various companies in Canada and the United States.
dennisowens@sustainalbewatertech.comDennis Owens, J Ecosyst Ecography 2017, 7:2 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625-C1-029