Microbial Insights is proud to collaborate with federal regulatory and grant agencies, bringing our scientific expertise and in-house capabilities to support government programs and strengthen regulatory compliance. We regularly provide training for federal and state agencies on how molecular biological tools (MBTs) can serve as powerful lines of evidence in routine site assessments including Superfund…
Unlocking the Potential for Petroleum Biodegradation with QuantArray®-Petro Comprehensive evaluation of biodegradation potential at petroleum impacted sites can by challenging due to two factors: (1) Petroleum products are complex mixtures of hundreds of aliphatic, aromatic, cyclic and heterocyclic compounds. (2) Even for common classes of contaminants like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), biodegradation can…
Highlighting Min-Traps: Revolutionizing Monitoring to Document Abiotic Degradation The Min-Trap® sampler passively collects direct mineralogical data using existing monitoring wells. Many in-situ groundwater treatment technologies for chlorinated solvents, as well as many metals and other contaminants, rely upon the formation, dissolution, and/or transformation of target solid-phase minerals either to sequester or degrade groundwater contaminants. However, evaluation of…
Navigating Natural Source Zone Depletion with QuantArray® NSZD Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD) is a complex phenomenon that involves the natural reduction and removal of light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) petroleum hydrocarbons from the subsurface. Microbial Insights Inc. introduces QuantArray® NSZD, a revolutionary tool that uncovers the intricate microbial dynamics behind this process. Let’s…
• At a petroleum pipeline release in a remote area Bio-Traps® and CENSUS® qPCR for BTEX catabolic functional genes proved stimulation of BTEX biodegradation in impacted groundwater and provided an additional line of evidence to support acceptance of an MNA management strategy at the site.
• Contaminant trends, geochemistry, CENSUS® qPCR, and NGS provided multiple lines of evidence supporting an MNA management strategy and avoiding the greater costs of enhanced remediation.
– Site stakeholders needed conclusive evidence that biodegradation of benzene and naphthalene was occurring under existing site conditions to accept MNA instead of a more aggressive strategy.
– Stable isotope probing (SIP) studies using Bio-Traps® amended with 13C benzene or 13C naphthalene conclusively demonstrated in situ biodegradation occurred under existing site conditions.
• A site impacted by chlorobenzene was managed by MNA.
• The ISM study provided answers to site managers’ questions at a significant cost savings compared to pilot-scale studies and provided sound support for a pathway to reducing time to closure at the site.
• 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.
• A petroleum pipeline release in a remote area had gone undiscovered for a number of years and groundwater was impacted with BTEX. Groundwater monitoring results suggested that BTEX concentrations were decreasing although results were variable.
• Trends in decreasing BTEX concentrations were validated as biological in origin supporting an MNA management strategy and avoiding the greater costs of enhanced remediation.
• A site impacted by PCE and TCE was experiencing an accumulation of cis-DCE (DCE stall). CENSUS® qPCR quantification demonstrated that Dehalococcoides concentrations were too low for effective rates of complete reductive dechlorination.
• Avoiding the expense of bioaugmentation resulted in significant cost savings while achieving treatment goals with biostimulation alone.