Anaerobic Chlorinated Ethene-Degrading Microbial Consortium
KB-1® is the most field-demonstrated culture of its type. Its robustness has been demonstrated for both source-area and plume remediation in porous matrices and fractured bedrock.
KB-1® is a bioaugmentation culture that contains Dehalococcoides (Dhc) bacteria, a unique genus of bacteria known to breakdown toxic chlorinated ethenes: perchloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethane (DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) to nontoxic ethene.
Benefits of KB-1®
- Bioremediation can occur in one simple and cost-effective step.
- KB-1® is compatible with all commonly used electron donors.
- KB-1® is a natural microbial culture, not genetically modified or engineered.
- All our cultures are free of known human pathogens.
Each shipment undergoes rigorous quality control, is of the highest quality and efficacy, and is free of volatile organic compounds.
Priority shipping is in stainless-steel vessels.
- KB-1® bioaugmentation comes with a guarantee of complete dechlorination to ethene.
Does your Site Need KB-1® Bioaugmentation?
If Gene-Trac® Testing shows that key contaminant degrading microorganisms such as Dehalococcoides (Dhc) and their functional genes (tceA, bvcA, vcrA) are absent at a site, dechlorination of solvents (PCE and TCE) typically stalls at a daughter product (cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), despite there being ample electron donor to sustain the microorganisms. Use KB-1® bioaugmentation to avoid a cDCE stall.
How Bioaugmentation Works
“Terraphase conducted a source area remediation using a combined in situ zero valent iron and bioremediation strategy using SiREM’s KB-1® culture to promote degradation of TCE at a Site in Kansas. The remediation resulted in several orders of magnitude TCE decrease in the source area groundwater and achieved a “No Further Action” determination from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in 2024. This important milestone at the legacy site could not have been attained without the technical support and excellent customer service provided from SiREM along the way. I have been working with the SiREM team for over twenty years and look forward to more successful projects in the future.”
KB-1® FAQ
Yes. Before using KB-1® at your site, we recommend conducting Gene-Trac® testing on the groundwater first. These are molecular genetic tests to determine if contaminant degrading bacteria are present or absent, and if present the concentration, at the test location.
We are happy to help you determine the best tests for your bioremediation project. Contact us for a quote today!
See Treatability for more information on buffering capacity tests used to assess aquifer buffering agent requirements.
KB-1® Plus bioaugmentation culture for other chlorinated solvents.
DGG Plus for aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX).
DXO-88 for 1,4-dioxane in aerobic environments.
We also offer Treatability testing services for complex sites to test and optimize your remedial strategy.
At SiREM, we are always developing new cultures to remediate contaminants of concern. If your site has a contaminant that we do not have listed, please contact us.
KB-1 Primer® is used to prepare anaerobic water to help disperse the cultures and protect them during injection. This process, which takes hours rather than weeks, allows bioaugmentation to happen at one field event, rather than requiring several events on separate days.
Learn how KB-1® Primer helps prepare groundwater to receive bioaugmentation cultures.
SiREM’s specialized performance monitoring tests are used in conjunction with routine analytical tests (e.g., chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) and field parameters (e.g., pH, DO and ORP)), and increase your ability to verify remediation success, optimize performance, and detect upset conditions.
SiREM’s specialized performance monitoring services for bioremediation include:
- Gene-Trac® Testing to monitor baseline, growth, and spread of introduced beneficial microbes. Two FREE Gene-Trac® tests are included with all bioremediation purchases to verify that the bioaugmentation injection was successful and check for the growth of the KB-1® culture in site groundwater.
- Analytical Testing to monitor volatile fatty acids (VFAs), perform compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA), and quantify dissolved hydrocarbon gases.
Please contact us if you have questions about how performance monitoring supports successful bioremediation.
Let’s Get Your Bioaugmentation Project Started!
We help you select the best cultures to use for a specific contaminant and site. We provide support as you inject them at your site, and we help you monitor progress after bioaugmentation.
