QuantArray®, an advanced qPCR method, quantifies a broad spectrum of contaminant degrading microorganisms and functional genes in a single analysis for more comprehensive and cost-effective evaluation of biodegradation potential. Microbial Insights offers four versions of QuantArray® for the Environmental Remediation industry:
QuantArray®-Petro quantifies a suite of functional genes involved in aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of BTEX, PAHs, and other petroleum hydrocarbons.
QuantArray®-Chlor quantifies key microorganisms (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, etc.) and functional genes (e.g., vinyl chloride reductase, methane monooxygenase, etc.) to assess potential for reductive dechlorination and aerobic cometabolism of chlorinated solvents such as TCE.
QuantArray®-BGC quantifies – simultaneously in a single analysis – a broad spectrum of microorganisms and genes involved in biogeochemical processes.
QuantArray®-NSZD quantifies – simultaneously in a single analysis – a broad spectrum of microorganisms, processes and genes involved in biodegrading LNAPL for assessing NSZD.
Each QuantArray® analytical suite includes over 20 gene targets selected by the experts at Microbial Insights to provide comprehensive, direct evidence of the microbial processes of interest. To keep current with the latest research, QuantArray® suites are periodically updated to include any newly identified, applicable gene targets that are found to be environmentally relevant.
ACCURATE
Direct analysis of sample DNA removes the need to grow the bacteria, thus eliminating biases associated with traditional approaches (e.g., plate counts and MPNs).
QUANTITATIVE
Absolute quantification of the concentrations of specific microorganisms and functional genes encoding enzymes responsible for contaminant biodegradation gives site managers a direct line of evidence to evaluate remediation options and monitor remedy performance. Results reported as cells/mL, cells/g, etc.
COST EFFECTIVE
In a single analysis, QuantArray® quantifies a broad spectrum of microorganisms and functional genes related to the processes of interest.
INFORMATIVE
Is that a low, medium or high concentration of contaminant degraders? With the MI Database, clients can retrieve percentile rankings of their QuantArray® results to answer that question based on the tens of thousands of samples MI has received from sites around the world.
SENSITIVE
The Method Detection Limit (MDL) is 10 cells/sample and the Practical Quantification Limit (PQL) is 250 cells/sample. Low detection limits are particularly important when evaluating whether bioaugmentation is needed or an unnecessary expense.
SPECIFIC
Target specific bacterial groups (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, Dehalogenimonas) and functional genes (e.g., vinyl chloride reductases, anaerobic benzene carboxylase) responsible for contaminant biodegradation and biogeochemical processes.
FLEXIBLE
Analysis can be performed on almost any type of sample (water, soil, sediments, Bio-Traps®, and others).
QuantArray® analysis provides actionable data that can be used to better understand the subsurface microbial community and increase confidence in site management decisions. In addition to a clear presentation of the results, QuantArray® reports include features to aid in interpretation:
For this project, site managers wanted to know if they could transition to MNA. By utilizing QuantArray®-Petro and SIP, we were able to provide them the analysis to support an MNA management decision.
• A homeowner dependent on a domestic water well suddenly saw an accumulation of a black precipitant clogging the pre-filter of their water treatment system. Two years previous to this observation there was a release of gas condensate hydrocarbons and saltwater upgradient of their property.
• The results of the QuantArray®-Petro analysis provided evidence of hydrocarbon impact in the drinking water aquifer upgradient of the homeowner’s property in a remarkably cost-effective manner and contributed to a settlement of this case to the benefit of the homeowner.
• A pilot study was conducted at a site where electron donor was injected into groundwater impacted by a mixture of chlorinated solvents.
• QuantArray®-Chlor and NGS provided complimentary evidence of both biotic and abiotic reductive dechlorination in response to the injection of the electron donor giving the client confidence in this remediation strategy expanding electron donor injection to the entire site.
• The ISM study conducted at this site provided clear, actionable evidence that increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration at the site would stimulate hydrocarbon biodegradation. Further, this evidence was provided in a significantly more cost effective manner than a bench-scale treatability study or a pilot scale study and in a more timely manner.
• Site managers were considering monitored natural attenuation (MNA), biostimulation, and bioaugmentation as remediation strategies at a site impacted by a complex mixture of chlorinated hydrocarbons including PCE, TCE, 1,1,2-TCA, 1,2-DCA, cis-DCE, and VC along with high concentrations of sulfate.
• QuantArray®-Chlor analysis provided actionable data for remedy selection allowing timely decisions and significant cost savings in site management.
• Groundwater at a former gasoline service station was impacted by leaking underground storage tanks and associated piping. Although contaminant trends and geochemistry suggested that MNA could be an appropriate site management strategy, the need for more rapid site closure led to a decision to enhance biodegradation of BTEX and MTBE aerobically with injection of an oxygen releasing compound.
At a crude oil impacted site, project managers were considering MNA as a site management strategy based on favorable contaminant concentration trends and geochemistry in groundwater. However, additional lines of evidence were required.
Together with contaminant concentration trends and geochemistry, the direct microbial data provided multiple lines of evidence to support a confident MNA decision resulting in significant cost savings over enhanced remediation.
• QuantArray®-Chlor analysis allowed site managers to have a comprehensive understanding of all relevant microbial processes at the site over time which allowed timely decisions and significant cost savings in site management.
