Electron donor limitations reduce microbial enhanced trichloroethene DNAPL dissolution: A flux-based analysis using diffusion-cells

Electron donor limitations likely reduce microbial enhanced trichloroethene (TCE) dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) dissolution. This study quantitatively examined the relation between the DNAPL dissolution enhancement and the electron donor supply rate. An experiment used diffusion-cells with a 5.5 cm central sand layer, separating a DNAPL layer from an aqueous top layer. Top layers were amended with different concentrations of formate (0–16 mM). The TCE DNAPL dissolution rate increased from no enhancement compared to abiotic dissolution without formate, to a 2.4 times dissolution enhancement with 16 mM formate amended to the top layer. With 2, 4 and 8 mM formate amended the top layer, the TCE diffusion flux out of the DNAPL layer equaled the formate diffusion flux out of the top layer, which illustrates their stoichiometric interdependence under electron donor limiting conditions. In contrast, with 16 mM formate amended to the top layer, the TCE diffusion flux was lower than the formate diffusion flux, demonstrating that the dechlorination kinetics limited the DNAPL dissolution enhancement. The DNAPL dissolution flux under electron donor limiting conditions was readily predicted from the electron donor concentration in the top layer.

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► Diffusion-cell experiment using different electron donor (formate) concentrations.
► Analysis of the factors limiting bio-enhanced TCE DNAPL dissolution.
► Electron donor supply is rate-limiting at low electron donor supplies.
► Dechlorination kinetics is rate-limiting at high electron donor supplies.
► Prediction of TCE DNAPL dissolution enhancement from electron donor supply.