Bacteria-Based Hydrogel Beads Clean Up Contaminated Groundwater

  • Magazine Article
  • TBMG-37451
Published August 01, 2020 by Tech Briefs Media Group in United States
Language:
  • English

Hydrogel beads with the consistency of gummy candy are made with an ingredient used in processed foods to clean up groundwater contaminated with dangerous and widely used volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Among the contaminants addressed by the method are 1,1,1-trichloroethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and 1,4-dioxane — degreasers commonly used by industry and the military. The chemicals can infiltrate groundwater through leaky underground storage tanks or runoff, or by simply being dumped on the ground.