Paper Title
USE OF A NOVEL BIOPELLET FOR TREATING TCE-CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER

Abstract
Remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) is a complex and time-consuming process. Traditional pump-and-treat strategies are inefficient and energy-intensive. This study investigates the use of biological pellets for bioremediation of TCE in groundwater. These pellets are composed of TCE-adapted microorganisms and fermented fruit peel materials, encapsulated with sodium alginate to maintain structural integrity and support prolonged nutrient release, creating an ideal environment for microbial activity. The key objectives include (1) cultivating microorganisms adapted to TCE, (2) verifying the nutrient content and microbial population within the pellets, and (3) assessing the efficiency of these pellets in treating TCE contamination in groundwater. Results showed that during the acclimation phase, the reaction rate constant reached 0.33 day⁻¹, and intermediate degradation products such as dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) were observed. The pellets, made from fermented fruit peel, contained 410.4±29.7 mg of total organic carbon (TOC) per gram, as well as essential nutrients like nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and trace metals. These pellets remained effective in the water for about 74 days. By day 74, the TCE removal rate had reached 63.5%, reducing the TCE concentration from 836.1 mg to 305.5 mg, with sufficient nutrients (TOC, TN, TP) available to support continued microbial growth. This study demonstrates the potential for biological pellets to accelerate the bioremediation process of TCE-contaminated groundwater, offering an efficient alternative to traditional methods. Keywords - Groundwater contamination, trichloroethylene (TCE), microbial acclimation, biopellets, TCE removal.