Distribution of ETBE-degrading microorganisms and functional capability in groundwater, and implications for characterising aquifer ETBE biodegradation potential

Aug 4, 2021

Microbes in aquifers are present suspended in groundwater or attached to the aquifer sediment. Groundwater is often sampled at gasoline ether oxygenate (GEO)-impacted sites to assess the potential biodegradation of organic constituents. However, the distribution of...

A comparison of three methods to assess natural source zone depletion at paved fuel retail sites

Jun 28, 2021

Natural source zone depletion (NSZD) encompasses all processes that result in petroleum hydrocarbon light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) mass loss. Vertical gas transport between the subsurface and atmosphere is a key component of NSZD. Gas exchange with the...

Regulator-suggested ‘temperature correction’ of biodegradation rates leads to overestimation of persistence for hydrocarbon substances (Concawe Review 30.1)

Jun 25, 2021

Since 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has required that all new biodegradation simulation tests be carried out at 12°C, and now also requires that half-life criteria resulting from studies previously undertaken at higher temperatures be...

Performance of water treatment systems for PFAS removal

Jun 10, 2021

Report no. 5/21: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of widely used man-made organic chemical substances. They contain alkyl groups on which all or many of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine. As such, they contain at least one...

Improving our understanding of the environmental persistence of chemicals

May 28, 2021

Significant progress has been made in the scientific understanding of factors that influence the outcome of biodegradation tests used to assess the persistence (P) of chemicals. This needs to be evaluated to assess whether recently acquired knowledge could enhance...