The Influence of Electrokinetic Bioremediation on Subsurface Microbial Communities at a Perchloroethylene Contaminated Site

There is increasing interest in using electrokinetic bioremediation (EKBIO) as a remedy for contamination in transport limited sites. This treatment strategy combines traditional bioremediation and electrokinetic technologies by applying direct current to transport bioremediation substrates and cultures in situ. The effect of this technology on the native soil microbial community has only been previously investigated at the bench scale. We explored the influence of electrokinetic bioremediation on subsurface microbial communities at a field scale demonstration site. The objectives of our study were to determine (1) how electrokinetic remediation impacts the microbial community structure in the field, and, (2) how these results compare to those of reported lab studies.