Dechlorination

Enhancing bioremediation of chlorinated-contaminated soil/groundwater

We apply the multifaceted approaches (e.g. microbial culture, molecular biotechnology, bioinformatics, bioreagent production, bioreactor design, and engineering control) to study the microbial dynamics, compositions, and interactions to enhance removal efficiency of chlorinated compounds.

1. The feasibility of bioremediation for remedying contamination of highly chlorinated dioxins
A distinctive microbial composition and population dynamic could be required for the enhanced degradation of highly chlorinated DD/Fs in the batch microcosm and highlight a potential of bioremediation technologies in remedying polychlorinated dioxins in the polluted sites.

2. Deeper understanding of the microbial community structure during dioxins bioremediation
We pyrosequenced the V4/V5 regions of the 16S rRNA genes of bacterial communities transited from polluted soil to batch microcosms that rapidly degraded high concentrations of octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF).

3. Develop compost-amended landfill reactor to reduce dioxins in contaminated soils
By periodically recirculating leachate and suppling oxygen, the online monitoring of the oxidation reduction potential confirmed that the reactors were maintained under hypoxic conditions. The average efficiencies of the landfill reactors were 70.5-78.9%, reflecting the positive effects of the compost-amended landfill reactors on dioxins reduction.

4. Maintaining hypoxic conditions through periodic aerations results in a marked fluctuation reduction-oxidation potential
The understanding of redox fluctuations in association with the degradation of recalcitrant substrates in soil and the corresponding microbiome.

5. Anerobic reactor systems in combining new concepts and methodology of microbioms to study the complete dechlorination of trichloroethylene
We systematically assess the effects of environmental factors such as salinity, pH, substrate, redox potential on the complete dechlorination efficiency of trichloroethylene. These results can serve as a reference for the development of precise bioremediation technology for the contamination of polychlorinated organic solvents.

6. Biodegrade multiple solvent pollutants using special microbial consortium
Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbons are among the most commonly found in groundwater. We change the electron consumption and stress response of microbial consortium through molecular biotechnology, reactor regulation, and water quality parameters so that microbial consortium can simultaneously carry out anaerobic reductive dichlorination and aerobic mineralization.

7. Customized bioreagent for complete dechlorianation of trichloroethylene
We develop high-abundance bioreagent and apply them in trichloroethylene-polluted sites to promote the efficiencies of reductive dichlorination.