Tech Tip
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for the growth of microorganisms, including dechlorinating bacteria. Some bacteria in nutrient-limited (oligotrophic) environments can convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to a form that can be used for growth [ammonium (NH4+)]. However, this process requires significant metabolic energy. More importantly, not all dechlorinating bacteria are capable of N2Â fixation (Ju et al. 2007). Kaya et al. (2019) demonstrated that ammonium addition accelerates complete dechlorination of cDCE to ethene. The adjacent figure shows that conversion of cDCE to ethene was increased by at least five-fold when NH4+Â was added to a dechlorinating microbial community. The quantity of Dehalococcoides (Dhc) species present was maximized in less than 20 days resulting in a complete conversion of cDCE in less than 30 days, compared 100 days in the control with no additional NH4+.
EOSPRO contains ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus to maximize Dhc growth and generate optimum conditions for complete dechlorination. For clients with complicated sites, we offer customized formulations which include additional specialized nutrients to provide our customers the most effective product for each of their project sites.
If you would like to read the complete article by Kaya et al. regarding the impact of NH4+Â on reductive dechlorination, e-mail Lydia Ross (LRoss@eosremediation.com) or Fausto Ortiz (JFOrtiz@eosremediation.com) for a free copy of the article.