Field worker with equipment

Anaerobic Microbial Consortium for Mixed Chlorinated Solvent Sites

Tri-halogenated compounds can inhibit the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes. KB-1® Plus bioaugmentation cultures introduce key microorganisms that degrade these contaminants and allow for complete dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes to non-toxic ethene.

KB-1® Plus is a custom blended bioaugmentation culture formulation that can completely degrade chlorinated solvent mixtures. For comparison, KB-1® is a microbial culture used for degradation of chlorinated ethenes.

Tri-halogenated compounds, such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane, chloroform, and 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113), inhibit the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes. KB-1® Plus bioaugmentation cultures introduce key degrading microorganisms that degrade these contaminants to allow for complete dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes to non-toxic ethene.

How KB-1® Plus Overcomes Inhibition

KB-1® Plus Can Remediate

  • Chlorinated ethanes (1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,1-dichloroethane to chloroethane; and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and 1,2-dichloroethane to ethene)

  • Chlorinated methanes (chloroform and dichloromethane to nonchlorinated end products)

  • Chlorinated propanes (1,2,3-trichloropropane and 1,2-dichloropropane to allyl alcohol and propene)
  • Chlorofluorocarbons (1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)
  • Explosives (RDX)
  • Chlorinated ethenes (tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, trichloroethane isomers and vinyl chloride to ethene)

Benefits of KB-1® Plus

  • Custom blended formulations of KB-1® Plus to completely degrade chlorinated volatile organic compound (VOC) mixtures.

  • Bioremediation can occur in one simple and cost-effective step.

  • KB-1® Plus is compatible with all commonly used electron donors.
  • KB-1® Plus is natural microbial culture, not genetically modified or engineered.
  • KB-1® Plus is 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 in stainless-steel vessels.

Bioremediation at Lower pH

Low aquifer pH is known to inhibit reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes. We provide Low pH KB-1® Plus for the following situations:

  • Where aquifer pH is in the 5.8–6.3 range.
  • In combination with aquifer neutralization, to maximize dechlorination while reducing the need to buffer.
  • To maximize performance in poorly buffered aquifers where pH declines are likely due to dechlorination and fermentation of electron donors (both acid-producing processes).
PH graph

Ethene production rate of Low pH KB-1® Plus is 5X higher than standard KB-1® at pH 6.0

KB-1® Plus FAQ

Yes. Before using KB-1® Plus 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!

SiREM has a full suite of bioaugmentation cultures that can address a wide range of recalcitrant chemicals, including:

KB-1® bioaugmentation culture for chlorinated ethenes.
DGG Plus for benzene, toluene, and xylene.
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.

To grow and thrive under the ground, anaerobic bioaugmentation cultures (KB-1®, KB-1® Plus, and DGG-Plus) require that no oxygen be present. Therefore, anaerobic bioaugmentation typically involves preparing the ground and groundwater to make it anaerobic by adding a biostimulant (electron donor) prior to adding the culture to degrade the compound of concern.

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 bioaugmented microbes 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.

Documentation

KB-1® Plus Cut Sheet

KB-1® Plus Low pH Cut Sheet

KB-1® Plus Propanes Cut Sheet

KB-1® Plus SDS Information

Gene-Trac® Testing

Performance Monitoring

KB-1 equipment