Vitamin B12 and reduced titanium for remediation of residual chlorinated solvents:: Field experiment

A first pilot-scale field experiment using vitamin B-12 and reduced titanium was conducted in an in situ vertical circulation column at CFB Borden. The objective of the experiment was to test the applicability of the technology for restoring aquifer source zones contaminated by chlorinated solvents-tetrachloroethene (PCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA)-in a mixture of dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). Vitamin B-12 promotes the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated organics. A highly reducing and slightly alkaline environment must be maintained (Eh < -480 mV and 7 < pH < 9) to maximize the rate of degradation. In this field test, PCE and 1,1,1-TCA degraded to a limited extent under experimental conditions, with 1,1,1-TCA degrading more readily. Indigenous bacteria were found to metabolize citrate, which caused titanium to precipitate, limiting degradation. The addition of glucose at the end of a second field season effectively limited citrate degradation and helped recover the optimal redox potential by keeping reduced titanium in solution. A laboratory column was used to confirm field results. The column also produced a significant biomass, which provided an additional source of organic carbon onto which the solvents sorbed.