Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes isomers (BTEX) exist widely in the groundwater contaminated by gasoline and are spread by the groundwater flow. Traditional remediation methods of physical (Pump and treat) or chemical (chemical oxidation) techniques are generally costly. Biological approaches for treating BTEX in the contaminated groundwater appear to be economical and environmental friendly processes, but supply of final electron acceptors for the microbe efficiently is still a strict problem. In our previous study, it was revealed that an electrode at a given potential could be the final electron acceptor for benzene biodegradation under anaerobic conditions. Further, the soil columns (reaction zone were 15 cm) were constructed to study the biodegradations of BTEX with carbon fiber electrode as the sole electron acceptor. The degradations of BTEX were more than 95%. This result is useful for the development of bioelectrochemical permeable reactive barrier. In order to promote this useful barrier to the on-site application in the near future, some useful parameters, such as the suitable value of applied potential for the electrode, hydraulic retention time, the efficiencies of BTEX biodegradation, and the microbial communities within the carbon fiber electrode will be organized in this pilot scale study on bioelectrochemical permeable reactive barrier.

bioelectrochemical permeable reactive barrier