Full-scale MTBE biobarrier - Presentation of final results from a 3-year ESTCP demonstration at Port Hueneme, CA

The ESTCP program sponsored a full-scale MTBE-BTEX biobarrier demonstration at the Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, CA, where dissolved MTBE plume is approximately 500 ft wide and about 1 mi long. This passive flow through biobarrier system was designed to biodegrade MTBE, TBA, and other dissolved hydrocarbons leaving the downgradient edge of a residual gasoline impacted source zone. Upgradient MTBE concentrations were ≤ 10 mg/L, and the BTEX concentrations were ≤ 1-2 mg/L. MTBE, TBA, and BTEX concentrations were reduced to < 0.005 mg/L downgradient of the biobarrier. No evidence of clogging of the biobarrier was observed. Microcosm studies conducted in the air only, oxygen only, and bioaugmented zones of the biobarrier were presented.