What is the impact of ERH on soil microbes?
ERH provides a strong overall benefit to bioremediation processes. Increasing temperatures to 30-40°C seem to be very beneficial to almost all dehalogenating microbes. Temperatures above 60°C do not kill microbes; however, most microbes will transform into inactive spores and wait for temperatures to cool. Some microbes use a combination biotic/abiotic process (probably coupled with iron) to eliminate chlorinated VOCs – this process is not yet well-understood. After ERH is complete and the site begins to cool, anaerobic dechlorination rates increase markedly. Thermal enhancement (compost pile effect) is part of the reason. However, ERH and boiling convert some of the naturally occurring total organic carbon into water-soluble (and bioavailable) forms. This in situ bioamendment avoids the distribution problems inherent with trying to inject a carbon substrate from the surface.
ERH provides a strong overall benefit to bioremediation processes. Increasing temperatures to 30-40°C seem to be very beneficial to almost all dehalogenating microbes. Temperatures above 60°C do not kill microbes; however, most microbes will transform into inactive spores and wait for temperatures to cool. Some microbes use a combination biotic/abiotic process (probably coupled with iron) to eliminate chlorinated VOCs – this process is not yet well-understood. After ERH is complete and the site begins to cool, anaerobic dechlorination rates increase markedly. Thermal enhancement (compost pile effect) is part of the reason. However, ERH and boiling convert some of the naturally occurring total organic carbon into water-soluble (and bioavailable) forms. This in situ bioamendment avoids the distribution problems inherent with trying to inject a carbon substrate from the surface. Please select the following links to read about the effects of ERH on indigenous microbes following remediation
