Superfund Research Program
Biogeochemical Controls over Corrinoid Bioavailability to Organohalide-Respiring Chloroflexi
Project Leader: Frank E. Loeffler
Co-Investigators: Jun Yan, Shawn R. Campagna
Grant Number: R01ES024294
Funding Period: 2014-2019
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Nitrous Oxide Halts Breakdown of Chlorinated Compounds
Research Brief - April 2019
A new Superfund Research Program (SRP) study showed that nitrous oxide (N2O), a groundwater contaminant commonly generated from agricultural runoff, inhibits bacterial degradation of certain chlorinated contaminants, including tetrachloroethene (PCE). The study may explain why bioremediation, or the use of bacteria to break down compounds, can stall at some hazardous waste sites.