Census - Model (qPCR) ER -Chlorinated Ethenes Remediation

ACCURATE
Direct analysis of sample DNA removes the need to grow the bacteria, thus eliminating biases associated with traditional approaches (e.g., plate counts and MPNs).

QUANTITATIVE
Absolute quantification of the concentrations of specific microorganisms and functional genes encoding enzymes responsible for contaminant biodegradation gives site managers a direct line of evidence to evaluate remediation options and monitor remedy performance. Results reported as cells/mL, cells/g, etc.

INFORMATIVE
Is that a low, medium, or high concentration of contaminant degraders? With the MI Database, clients can retrieve percentile rankings of their CENSUS ® qPCR results to answer that question based on the tens of thousands of samples MI has received from sites around the world.

SENSITIVE
Practical Detection Limits (PDL) are as low as 100 cells per sample with a dynamic range over seven orders of magnitude. Low detection limits are particularly important when evaluating whether bioaugmentation is needed or an unnecessary expense.

SPECIFIC
Target specific bacterial groups (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, Dehalogenimonas) and functional genes (e.g. vinyl chloride reductases, anaerobic benzene carboxylase) responsible for contaminant biodegradation.

COST EFFECTIVE
Fast turnaround time (7-10 days), with rush service available, so you can make decisions and take action quickly. CENSUS® qPCR is inexpensive and ultimately saves money by allowing site managers to make more informed decisions.

FLEXIBLE
Analysis can be performed on almost any type of sample (water, soil, sediments, Bio-Traps®, and others).

CUSTOMIZABLE
Assays are available for quantification of many microorganisms and functional genes responsible for biodegradation of a broad spectrum of contaminants. Custom assays can also be developed to fit your needs.

The most direct avenue to evaluate biodegradation as a treatment mechanism is to directly quantify the microorganisms or biological processes responsible for biodegradation of the contaminants of concern. Following is a breakdown of the CENSUS targets available for evaluating biodegradation of chlorinated ethenes.

CENSUS Targets for Reductive Dechlorination (Analysis of Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, Dehalogenimonas and other bacteria capable of reductive dechlorination)

Under anaerobic conditions, PCE can be sequentially dehalogenated through TCE, cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) to ethene via microbially mediated reductive dechlorination. Because ethene is an innocuous end product, reductive dechlorination is an attractive treatment mechanism for PCE/TCE-impacted sites.

The following table describes the individual CENSUS targets, their importance in evaluating reductive dechlorination as a treatment mechanism, and provides guidelines for integrating CENSUS results into routine groundwater monitoring for common corrective actions.

CENSUS Targets for Cometabolism of Chlorinated Ethenes (Methanotrophs and other bacteria capable of co-metabolism)

Under aerobic conditions, several different types of bacteria including methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and some toluene/phenol-utilizing bacteria can cometabolize or co-oxidize trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride (VC). In general, cometabolism of chlorinated ethenes is mediated by monooxygenase enzymes with “relaxed” specificity that oxidize a primary (growth supporting) substrate and co-oxidize the chlorinated compound. In the presence of methane, for example, methanotrophs produce methane monooxygenases which oxidize methane to methanol and can also co-oxidize TCE.

The following table describes individual CENSUS targets and their importance in evaluating aerobic cometabolism as a treatment mechanism, and provides guidelines for integrating CENSUS results into routine groundwater monitoring for common corrective actions.