Fe(o)-based bioremediation of aquifers contaminated with mixed wastes

The present invention relates generally to the field of bioremediation. More particularly, it concerns compositions, methods and apparatus for the removal of nitrogenous and halocarbon pollutants from environmental sources including agricultural areas, soils, ground and surface water, sewage, sludges, landfill leachates, and wastewater. In particular embodiments, the invention discloses and claims compositions comprising zero-valent iron and hydrogenotrophic bacteria for use in removing target contaminants by a synergistic combination of abiotic and biological reductive mechanisms. Disclosed are methods, devices and apparatus for bioremediation of mixed waste aquifers, based on a synergistic combination of reductive treatment using zero-valent iron and anaerobic biotransformations. Also disclosed are methods for in situ and ex situ remediation of groundwater and wastewater via these iron-bacterial compositions in a variety of devices including batch reactors, permeable and semipermeable reactive barriers, flow-through reactors, fluidized bed reactors, and sediment tanks.