Research Seminar - Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

• Who: Associate Professor Mike Manefield, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales

• Seminar title: Bioremediation solutions for organochlorine contaminated aquifers in Australia

• When: 12 noon, Thursday 8 November 2012

• Where: Lecture Theatre G.26, Building M8, Hawkesbury Campus, UWS Seminar

Abstract: Organochlorines such as perchloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethane and chloroform are useful industrial solvents that enter groundwater ecosystems through poor handling and improper disposal. The widespread nature of groundwater contamination with organochlorines in combination with their toxicity and carcinogenicity make this a major international environmental concern. Traditional engineering solutions involving pumping and treating contaminated groundwater are expensive to establish and operate and are energy intensive. Bioremediation through biostimulation or bioaugmentation of organochlorine degrading bacteria offers a more cost effective and sustainable solution. Bioaugmentation (addition of bacteria) for organochlorine degradation whilst common elsewhere in the world has not been practised in Australia owing in part to our quarantine laws preventing release of imported bacterial cultures. Over the past five years we have developed anaerobic cultures for the biodegradation of perchloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethane and chloroform. These cultures have been characterised with respect to degradation rates, tolerance to organochlorines, microbial community composition and degradation mechanisms. Two of the cultures have been trialled successfully at pilot scale at contaminated sites in NSW and Victoria, paving the way for more widespread application of bioremediation to organochlorine contaminated sites in Australia.

Further information about the HIE Seminar series and committee can be accessed via: http://www.uws.edu.au/hie/events_and_seminars No RSVP is required, we hope to see you all there.