The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	The use and evaluation of cleaner wicks to accelerate in situ bioremediation of organically contaminated groundwater and soil
Author:	Sielski, Brian Michael
View Online:	njit-etd1994-128 (x, 60 pages ~ 2.5 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Environmental Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Konon, Walter (Committee chair) Schuring, John R. (Committee member) Dauenheimer, Edward G. (Committee member)
Date:	1994-10
Keywords:	Water -- Purification -- Air stripping process Water -- Purification -- Organic compounds removal Groundwater -- Purification Soil remediation Bioremediation
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	The adaptation of Cleaner Wicks to accelerate in situ bioremediation of organically contaminated ground water and soil can be accomplished by making minor modifications to the Cleaner Wick design. Once these changes in the Cleaner Wick design have been made the two primary ingredients necessary for aerobic microorganisms, nutrients and oxygen, can be delivered via the Cleaner Wick to the subsurface environment both above and below the water table to stimulate microbial growth and activity. Therefore, the microbial population will be able to biodegrade the target contaminants, rendering them harmless products such as carbon dioxide and water. An adequate understanding of the microbiological environment is necessary to achieve any type of success in bioremediation. Other factors that must be considered are subsurface temperature, pH, redox potential, site characterization, and possible inhibitory (i.e., competitive) microorganisms present.