IN SITU ANAEROBIC BIOREMEDIATION OF A MIXED TCE AND PERCHLORATE PLUME

AT VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE

Amena Atta
Vandenberg Air Force Base
30 CES/CEV
1020 Iceland Avenue, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA 93437
Phone: (805) 605-7249, Email: Amena.Atta@vandenberg.af.mil

Coauthors:
Mark Thomas, Shaw Environmental, Inc.
Daniel Leigh, Shaw Environmental, Inc.

INTRODUCTION
Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is located on South Vandenberg Air Force Base, approximately 3,000 feet east
of the Pacific Ocean. SLC-4 is a satellite launch facility that includes two Titan missile launch complexes, SLC-4
East and West (SLC-4E and SLC-4W). Rocket launch facility operations resulted in a mixed plume of chlorinated
solvents (mostly trichloroethene [TCE]) and perchlorate in groundwater beneath the site. Source areas of higher
contaminant concentrations in the saturated zone exist beneath both launch facilities, however, contaminated
groundwater plumes extend downgradient from the source areas nearly 6,500 feet and 4,000 feet, respectively.

A dual phase extraction system was placed into operation at SLC-4W in October 2003 as an Interim Remedial
Action (IRA). While TCE concentrations in soil vapor and groundwater declined since the IRA was implemented,
elevated TCE and perchlorate concentrations in groundwater remained within the source area. Therefore, based
on the persistence of TCE and perchlorate within the source area, an in situ bioaugmentation (ISB) treatability
study was implemented in March 2005 using project cost savings. Results are presented below.

TREATABILITY STUDY
Baseline: Prior to injections, source area TCE concentrations in February 2005 ranged from 70.52 µg/L in 9EX4
to 6,216 µg/L in 9EX17 (Figure 1). TCE was detected in proposed injection wells 9EX14 and 9MW18 at
concentrations of 325.5 µg/L and 6,124 µg/L, respectively. Perchlorate concentrations in February 2005 ranged
from 3.9 µg/L in well 9EX14 to 212 µg/L in well 9EX15 (Figure 2). Perchlorate was detected in proposed injection
well 9MW18 at a concentration of 157 µg/L. TCE and perchlorate concentrations in the groundwater extraction
system holding tank water (used to dilute sodium lactate solution) were 256.1 µg/L and 170 µg/L, respectively.

FIGURE 1. TCE in groundwater, Feb 2005. FIGURE 2. Perchlorate in groundwater, Feb 2005.

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Results of a dissolved gas analyses indicated that ethene was not present in any of the wells that were sampled.
In addition, volatile organic acids (VOAs) were not present in any of the wells that were sampled. Groundwater
from 9MW18 was also analyzed for the presence of Dehalococcoides sp (DHC) using polymerase chain reaction
(PCR); the result was used as baseline data for future comparison with SDC-9 microbes (transport or growth) that
will be monitored during the test.

Initial Injections: In March 2005, approximately 1,000 gallons each of a 3 percent (%) lactate solution (made
from 60% sodium lactate solution and system holding tank groundwater collected from source area) was injected
into wells 9EX14 and 9MW18. The purpose of this initial injection was to reduce the DO and ORP levels in the
aquifer in the immediate vicinity of the injection wells prior to the injection of microbes. Two days later,
approximately 18 liters of SDC-9 microbes were mixed with approximately 2,000 gallons of a 0.3% lactate solution
for injection into wells 9EX14 and 9MW18. Approximately 1,000 gallons was injected into each well, in addition to
approximately 14 liters of SDC-9 microbes per well, which was simultaneously injected into the bottom of each
well using Teflon tubing. Following the initial bioaugmentation injections, an additional 8,000 gallons (4,000
gallons each well) of 0.3% lactate solution was injected into the two wells.

Subsequent to the injections, groundwater extraction continued in the surrounding wells (9EX4, 9EX5, 9EX8,
9EX15, 9EX16, 9EX17, and 9EX19) in an attempt to transport the substrate and the SDC-9 throughout the
aquifer. Extraction from wells 9EX14 and 9MW18 was suspended during the entire test. Once field
measurements indicated substrate had been transported to surrounding wells (as evidenced by a decrease in DO
and ORP, and an increase in conductivity readings [verified by groundwater samples analyzed for VOAs]),
groundwater extraction within the source area was suspended (on April 14, 2005) for the remainder of the test.

Field measurements were collected weekly from the injection and surrounding wells for the remainder of the test.
As the test progressed, DO and ORP continued to decrease and conductivity and alkalinity continued to increase,
beginning first with the injection wells and moving outward toward the surrounding wells. As substrate was
utilized over time, DO and ORP began to increase while alkalinity began to decrease.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS
TCE concentrations from groundwater samples collected in April and May ranged from 1.96 µg/L in well 9MW18
(6,124 µg/L, February 2005) to 1,837 µg/L in well 9EX17 (6,216 µg/L, February 2005) and 2,412 µg/L in well
9EX15 (2,018 µg/L, February 2005) (Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7). Groundwater collected from well 9MW18 also
contained cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) (3.52 µg/L), vinyl chloride (77.53 µg/L), and ethene (66 µg/L); the
presence of ethene provides evidence that complete dechlorination of TCE occurred as a result of bioremediation.
The presence of cis-DCE was also confirmed in wells 9EX14 (4.02 µg/L) and 9EX17 (515.3 µg/L), but neither
vinyl chloride nor ethene were present in any of the wells.

FIGURE 3. TCE, April/May 2005. FIGURE 4. Cis-DCE, April/May 2005.

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 FIGURE 5. Vinyl chloride, April/May 2005. FIGURE 6. Ethene, April/May 2005.

Perchlorate concentrations ranged from non-detect in wells

9EX4 (148 µg/L, February 2005), 9EX15 (212 µg/L,
February 2005), 9EX17 (162 µg/L, February 2005), 9EX19
(168 µg/L, February 2005), and 9MW18 (157 µg/L, February
2005) to 161 µg/L in 9EX8 (122 µg/L, February 2005).
Considering the perchlorate concentration in the injection
solution (170 µg/L) was approximately equal to the average
perchlorate concentration within the source area, it is likely
that the decrease in perchlorate concentrations to non-
detect levels within the source area can be attributed to
biological degradation.

Subsequent Injections: The presence of high

concentrations of cis-1,2-DCE with a corresponding absence
of vinyl chloride and ethene in three other downgradient and
crossgradient ISB monitoring wells indicated that the
dechlorination process was incomplete in these wells.
Therefore, subsequent injections were performed in these
areas, followed by injections into selected wells within the
treatment area using the same approach identified above. FIGURE 7. Perchlorate, April/May 2005.

RESULTS
Results of samples collected in January 2006 indicated that TCE concentrations have decreased noticeably in
several wells. In addition, ethene is present in four wells (9EX-4, 9EX-15, 9EX-17 and 9EX-19). Perchlorate
concentrations decreased to near non-detect levels in eight wells. Concentration contours of TCE and its
degradation products are shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11. Figure 12 shows the perchlorate concentration as of
January 2006.

The pilot study successfully demonstrated that TCE and perchlorate can be simultaneously biodegraded to
innocuous byproducts when present together within the same plume. Perchlorate rapidly degrades upon addition
of substrate. In addition, it is possible to successfully inject substrate and cultures into a relatively deep, aerobic
aquifer using existing wells. Based on the results of this pilot study, an expansion into other areas of the plume
was approved by the regulators.

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 FIGURE 8. TCE, January 2006. FIGURE 9. Cis-DCE, January 2006.

FIGURE 10. Vinyl Chloride, January 2006. FIGURE 11. Ethene, January 2006

FIGURE 12. Perchlorate. January 2006.

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