SBIR Phase I: Biodegration of the Gasoline Oxygenate Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)

* 9661329香农 该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目涉及能够降解汽油中的甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE）的微生物的表征，以及开发用于处理MTBE污染土壤和含水层的原位生物修复工艺。 自1979年以来，MTBE一直被用作高辛烷值添加剂，以减少以前用于汽油中的毒性更大的芳香族添加剂。 美国生产了近180亿磅的甲基叔丁基醚。S. 1995年，它占消费者使用的新配方汽油的11%。 其广泛使用导致其意外排放，并随后污染含水层和土壤。 联合S.地质调查局估计，甲基叔丁基醚是城市地下沃茨中第二大常见的水污染物。 很少有研究已经完成，以评估的生物降解和命运的MTBE。本研究将探讨甲基叔丁基醚降解丙烷氧化细菌菌株M。Vaccae JOB5和该公司最近分离的三种MTBE降解菌株。 这项研究将确定退化的速度和机制，并系统地说明使用模型含水层进行原地生物刺激所需的条件。 如果我们必须依靠现有技术，修复泄漏的地下储罐的费用估计超过18亿美元。该项目期间开发的原位技术将被纳入该公司现有的补救技术，以开发一种经济可行的降解甲基叔丁基醚的系统。 该技术将广泛应用于政府和私人网站。 ***

*** 9661329 Shannon This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project involves the characterization of microorganisms capable of degrading the gasoline oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and development of an in situ bioremediation process for treatment of MTBE-contaminated soils and aquifers. MTBE has been used since 1979 as a high-octane additive to reduce the more toxic aromatic additives that have previously been used in gasoline. Almost 18 billion pounds of MTBE were produced in the U. S. in 1995, and it accounts for up to 11% of the reformulated gasoline used by consumers. Its widespread use has resulted in its accidental discharge and the subsequent contamination of aquifers and soils. The U. S. Geological Survey has estimated that MTBE is the second most common water pollutant in urban ground waters. Few studies have been done to evaluate the biodegradation and fate of MTBE. This research project will investigate MTBE degradation by an MTBE-degrading propane-oxidizing bacterial strain M. vaccae JOB5 and three MTBE-degrading strains recently isolated by the firm. The study will determine rates and mechanisms of degradation, and systematically characterize the conditions needed for in situ biostimulation using model aquifers. The cost of remediating leaking underground storage tanks has been estimated to be greater than $1.8 billion if we must rely on current technologies. The in situ technology developed during this project will be incorporated into the firm's existing remediation technologies to develop an economically feasible system for degrading MTBE. The technology will be widely applicable at both government and private sites. ***