Methods for enhancing bioremediation of ground water contaminated with nonaqueous halogenated solvents are disclosed. An illustrative method includes adding a composition to the ground water wherein the composition is an electron donor for microbe-mediated reductive dehalogenation of the halogenated solvents and enhances mass transfer of the halogenated solvents from residual source areas into the aqueous phase of the ground water. Illustrative compositions effective in these methods include whe...

This invention includes methods of stimulating anaerobic degradation of subsurface contaminants. The methods include vaporizing a liquid electron donor to form a treating gas. The treating gas or hydrogen is directed to a subsurface site that includes one or more contaminants, thereby stimulating anaerobic degradation of the subsurface contaminants.

Septic systems are treated with alkane-utilizing bacteria. Alkanes such as butane are injected into septic system wastewater in order to enhance growth of alkane-utilizing bacteria which degrade wastes. Aerobic processes may be achieved by injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the septic system. Alternatively, anaerobic processes may be used. The alkane and oxygen-containing gas may be injected at any suitable stage of the septic system, such as injection into a septic tank, drainfield and/or ...

An apparatus and method are provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic ...

There is disclosed a bio-enhancing composition comprising a carbohydrate and saponin, preferably comprising yucca extract, for the acceleration of bacterial metabolism. This particularly useful in the acceleration of bacterial metabolism in the breakdown of organic waste. There is also provided a method of stimulating microorganism metabolism and the use of the composition for such stimulation.

The present invention provides a method for promoting growth of microbes capable of degrading organic material in various wastewater streams. The method includes applying a composition that comprises fatty acids, preferably a combination of one or more saturated fatty acids and one or more unsaturated fatty acids which are shown to provide synergistically greater microbial degradation than any of the saturated or unsaturated fatty acids alone. Because the unsaturated fatty acids tend to be in th...

In situ treatment of contaminated groundwater includes identifying a site contaminated with a pollutant susceptible to degradation by in situ, sulfate-reducing microorganisms. An amount of sulfate needed to support metabolization of the contaminants is estimated. The estimated amount of sulfate is applied to the site. In various alternatives of embodiments of the invention, the sulfate may be applied is a dry state or as a solution with water. The sulfate concentration in solution is in excess o...

A method and apparatus for treating wastewater streams by adding, either separately or as a mixture, a nitrate containing compound and an alkaline material in an amount sufficient to achieve a lower concentration of atmospheric hydrogen sulfide and dissolved sulfides downstream of the addition as compared to the atmospheric hydrogen sulfide and dissolved sulfides present in the wastewater stream prior to the addition. By adding alkaline material in addition to a nitrate containing compounds, the...

A method for treating contamination in subsurface formations includes fracturing the soil to produce a network of fractures in the formation and simultaneously injecting a slurry containing an optional proppant and a solid-phase or nonaqueous-phase treatment agent into the network of fractures. The proppant is for keeping the fractures open, and the treatment agent accelerates conversion of the contaminants into immobile or less toxic forms. Chitin is an illustrative solid-phase treatment agent,...

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating agricultural waste with an alkane substrate to stimulate bacterial digestion. The alkane treatment may also reduce odor of the agricultural waste material. The agricultural waste may include animal waste, vegetable material, leaf material, plant material, composting material or waste paper products. The alkane preferably includes butane, propane, methane and/or ethane, with butane being particularly preferred. Methods and apparatus are also provide...