Method of degrading pollutants in soil

U.S. Patent Number: 5326703

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the motility of microorganisms by placing an effective amount of chlorinated hydrocarbons, preferably chlorinated alkenes, and most preferably trichloroethylene in spaced relation to the microbes so that the surprisingly strong, monomodal, chemotactic response of the chlorinated hydrocarbon on subsurface microbes can draw the microbes away from or towards and into a substance, as desired. In remediation of groundwater pollution, for example, TCE can be injected into the plume to increase the population of microbes at the plume whereby the plume can be more quickly degraded. A TCE-degrading microbe, such as Welchia alkenophilia, can be used to degrade the TCE following the degradation of the original pollutant.

Inventors: Hazen; Terry C. (Augusta, GA), Lopez-De-Victoria; Geralyne (Irmo, SC)

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States (Washington, DC)

Application Number: 07/896,762

Issued: 1994-07-05

Expired: 2006-07-05

Classes: 435/262.5 ; 435/244; 435/250; 435/252.1; 435/821; 435/822

Field of search: 435/30,244,250,262,262.5,264,252.1,821,822

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