• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.04a
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2004

Quantifying rates of microbial processes under subsurface conditions is difficult, and is most commonly approximated by laboratory studies using aquifer materials. In this study a single-well, 'push-pull' test method is adapted for the in situ determination of denitrification rates in groundwater aquifers. The rates of stepwise reduction of nitrate to nitrite, nitrous oxide, and molecular nitrogen were determined by performing a series of push-pull tests at an experimental well field of Korea University. A single Transport Test, one Biostimulation Test, and four Activity Tests were conducted for this study. Transport tests are conducted to evaluate the mobility of solutes used in subsequent tests. These included bromide (a conservative tracer), fumarate (a carbon and/or source), and nitrate (an electron acceptor). At this site, extraction phase breakthrough curves for all solutes were similar, indicating apparent conservative transport of the solutes prior to biostimulation. Biostimulation tests were conducted to stimulate the activity of indigenous heterotrophic denitrifyinc microorganisms. Biostimulation was detected by the simultaneous production of carbon dioxide and nitrite after each injection. Activity tests were conducted to quantify rates of nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide reduction. Estimated zero-order degradation rates decreased in the order nitrate '||'&'||'gt; nitrite '||'&'||'gt; nitrous oxide. The series of push-pull tests developed and field tested in this study should prove useful for conducting rapid, low-cost feasibi1ity assessments for in situ denitrification in nitrate-contaminated aquifers.

• Geosciences Journal
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1041-1052
• /
• 2018

A single-well push-drift-pull tracer test using two different tracers ($SF_6$ and salt) was performed at the Environmental Impact Test (EIT) site to determine suitable locations for monitoring wells and arrange them prior to artificial $CO_2$ injection and leak tests. Local-scale estimates of hydraulic properties (linear groundwater velocity and effective porosity) were obtained at the study site by the tracer test with two tracers. The mass recovery percentage of the volatile tracer ($SF_6$) was lower than that of the non-volatile tracer (salt) and increased drift time may make degassing of $SF_6$ intensified. The $CO_2$ leakage monitoring results for both unsaturated and saturated zones suggest that the $CO_2$ monitoring points should be located near points at which a high concentration gradient is expected. Based on the estimated hydraulic properties and tracer mass recovery rates, an optimal $CO_2$ monitoring network including boreholes for monitoring the unsaturated zone was constructed at the study site.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.138-140
• /
• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.188-191
• /
• 2003

Sing]e-well-push-pull tests were developed for use in assessing the feasibility of in-situ aerobic cometabolism of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs). The series includes Transport tests, Biostimulation tests, and Activity tests. Transport tests are conducted to evaluate the mobility of solutes used in subsequent tests. These included bromide or chloride (conservative tracers), propane (growth substrate), ethylene, propylene (CAH surrogates), dissolved oxygen (electron acceptor) and nitrate (a minor nutrient). Tests were conducted at an experimental well field of Oregon State University. At this site, extraction phase breakthrough curves for all solutes were similar, indicating apparent conservative transport of the dissolved gases and nitrate prior to biostimulation. Biostimulation tests were conducted to stimulate propane-utilizing activity of indigenous microorganisms and consisted of sequential injections of site groundwater containing dissolved propane and oxygen. Biostimulation was detected by the increase in rates of propane and oxygen utilization after each injection. Activity tests were conducted to quantify rates of substrate utilization and to confirm that CAH-transforming activity had been stimulated. In particular, the transformation of injected CAH surrogates ethylene and propylene to the cometabolic byproducts ethylene oxide and propylene oxide provided evidence that activity of the monooxygenase enzyme system, responsible for aerobic cometabolic transformations of CAHs had been stimulated. Estimated zero-order transformation rates decreased in the order propane > ethylene > propylene. The series of push-pu3l tests developed and field tested in this study should prove useful for conducting rapid, low-cost feasibility assessments for in situ aerobic cometabolism of CAHs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.09a
• /
• pp.175-178
• /
• 2004

Little study has been published specifically addressing the dynamics of nitrate reducing bacteria (NBR) during the bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated aquifer. In our previous study we successfully quantified fumarate-enhanced microbial nitrate reduction rate in a nitrate-contaminated aquifer by using a series of single-well push-pull tests (PPTs). In this study we analyzed the suspended population during PPTs. To monitor changes in the microbial community, PCR amplification of 16S rDNA genes and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to study the dynamics of the bacterial community in detail. Before the stimulation of NBR, the dominant DGGE bands obtained by PCR were affiliated with V-Proteobacteria consisting of Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens. However, as NBR biostimulation proceeded, the dominant patterns of DGGE bands changed, and they were affiliated with Azoarcus denitrificans Td-3 and Flavobacterium xanthum. Azoarcus denitrificans Td-3 is known to completely reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas. The series of single-well push-pull tests in this study should prove useful for conducting rapid, low-cost feasibility assessments for in situ denitrification and provide important information about which microorganisms play a key role in bioremediation of a nitrate contaminated aquifer.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2005

The feasibility of stimulating in situ aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms was investigated in a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer. A series of single-well natural drift tests (SWNDTs) was conducted by injecting site groundwater amended with a bromide tracer and combinations of toluene, oxygen, nitrate, ethylene and TCE into an existing monitoring well and by sampling the same well over time. Three field tests, Push-pull Transport Test, Drift Biostimulation Test, and Drift Surrogate Activity Test, were performed in sequence. Initial rate of toluene degradation was much faster than the rate of bromide dilution resulting from natural groundwater drift, indicating stimulation of indigenous toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. Transformation of ethylene, a surrogate probing overall activity of TCE transformation, was also observed, and its transformation results in the production of ethylene oxide, suggesting that some tolueneoxidizing microorganisms stimulated may express a orthomonooxygenase enzyme. Also in situ transformation of TCE was confirmed by greater retardation of TCE than bromide after the stimulation of toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. These results indicate that, in this environment, toluene and oxygen additions stimulated the growth and aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms expressing orthomonooxygenase enzymes. The simple, low-cost field test method presented in this study provides an effective method for conducting rapid field assessments and pilot testing of aerobic cometabolism, which has previously hindered application of this technology to groundwater remediation.