KB-1^® Plus TCA Culture Approved to Treat TCA in Canada

SiREM’s KB-1^® Plus TCA degrading culture was approved by Environment Canada to treat 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) at sites across the country. This microbial consortium is used to naturally metabolize TCA in groundwater.

Until now, the presence of TCA at mixed chlorinated solvent sites in Canada meant that bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes to ethene was inhibited and would often stall. However, when this specialized KB-1^® Plus culture is added to the site, TCA is dechlorinated alleviating the inhibition and allowing complete dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes to ethene to occur, which is a simple and cost-effective way to remediate chlorinated solvents in groundwater.

TCA is a synthetic chemical that depletes the ozone and is toxic to humans. Chronic exposure can cause damage to the liver, nervous system, and circulatory system. While it was first used in the 1950s as an industrial solvent for grease, oil, and wax, its use peaked in the 1970s as a replacement for the restricted toxic solvent trichloroethene (TCE). However, TCA became restricted and then banned in the 1980s because of its ozone-depleting potential.

For more than 20 years, SiREM has been studying and using our KB-1^® Plus cultures including KB-1^® Plus for TCA dechlorination to address complex chlorinated-solvent sites in the United States. This approval will allow practitioners to address similar sites throughout Canada.

For more information on SiREM’s KB-1^® Plus TCA culture, or services for monitoring and optimizing 1,1,1-trichloroethane remediation please reach out to contactsirem@siremlab.com.