“RemBac Environmental deploys Bioamended SediMite in New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site”. In April Bioamended SediMite was applied to test plots in the intertidal zone and salt marsh of East Zone 4 of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site as part of a NIEHS SBIR Phase II grant. This study is evaluating the relative efficacies of activated carbon and RemBac's PCB-degrading microorganism consortium, both delivered via SediMite, in sequestering and degrading PCBs in-situ. The goal is to demonstrate the scaleability of the technology and test the efficacy of the technology in an intertidal marsh.
RemBac Environmental was awarded a SBIR Phase II #2R44ES032365-02A1 from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program to further advance commercialization of bioaugmented AC by demonstrating the efficacy of the methods developed in Phase I for scaled up production at a commercial facility, and perform a pilot-scale demonstration of the technology at the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site (NBHSS). PCB degrading microorganisms will be scaled up to cell numbers sufficient to treat over 1 acre, and SediMite (TM of Sediment Solutions) will be inoculated on-site using methods developed in Phase I to assess the efficacy of the application methods in a tidal marsh. PCB levels in sediment and water will be assayed after one year to 1) assess the effectiveness and environmental impact of the treatment, and 2) assess the stability of the treatment with tidal activity. The proposed research is anticipated to result in a direct transfer of this technology to full commercial viability in large-scale projects through an active collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), engineering consultants, and Superfund site stakeholders.
Future test site in New Bedford Harbor for Phase II SBIR project
An article entitled “ Low-Cost Technology Cleans Up Contaminated Sites” features treatment of PCB impacted sediments with SediMite, including treatment with Bioamended SediMite. The article discusses the early development and the successful reduction of PCB levels in fish after application of SediMite in a several sites. Also discussed is the reduction of total PCBs in sediments and in the water phase after combining microbes with SediMite to accelerate in situ degradation of PCBs. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/phi/archives/remediation/sedimite
