The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Charlotte Sparrenbom

Charlotte Sparrenbom

Senior lecturer

Charlotte Sparrenbom

Characterizing natural degradation of tetrachloroethene (PCE) using a multidisciplinary approach

Author

  • Sofia Åkesson
  • Charlotte J. Sparrenbom
  • Catherine J. Paul
  • Robin Jansson
  • Henry Holmstrand

Summary, in English

A site in mid-western Sweden contaminated with chlorinated solvents originating from a previous dry cleaning facility, was investigated using conventional groundwater analysis combined with compound-specific isotope data of carbon, microbial DNA analysis, and geoelectrical tomography techniques. We show the value of this multidisciplinary approach, as the different results supported each interpretation, and show where natural degradation occurs at the site. The zone where natural degradation occurred was identified in the transition between two geological units, where the change in hydraulic conductivity may have facilitated biofilm formation and microbial activity. This observation was confirmed by all methods and the examination of the impact of geological conditions on the biotransformation process was facilitated by the unique combination of the applied methods. There is thus significant benefit from deploying an extended array of methods for these investigations, with the potential to reduce costs involved in remediation of contaminated sediment and groundwater.

Department/s

  • Quaternary Sciences
  • Division of Water Resources Engineering
  • Applied Microbiology
  • Lithosphere and Biosphere Science

Publishing year

2020-12-02

Language

English

Pages

1074-1088

Publication/Series

Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment

Volume

50

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
  • Geology
  • Geophysics
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Bioremediation

Keywords

  • Chlorinated solvents
  • Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis
  • Geophysics
  • Groundwater
  • Natural degradation
  • Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction

Status

Published

Project

  • Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons: an interdisciplinary study of degradation and distribution in complex environments

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0044-7447