# Mitigating Airborne PCB Emissions from Sediments with Black Carbon Materials and PCB-Degrading Biofilms

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $241,295

## Abstract

SUMMARY: Project 5 – Remediation in Sediments
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are commonly encountered organic chemical pollutants of concern at
Superfund sites, which are often found in river and lake sediments near areas of industrial and commercial
activity. The Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP) has shown that airborne PCB emissions from open
water associated with contaminated sediment sources could pose significant inhalation risk to nearby
populations. Project 5 research is based on the critical need to develop, evaluate, and demonstrate innovative
approaches to disrupt the flux of PCBs from sediments to the atmosphere at Superfund sites. Project 5’s
central hypothesis is that black carbon materials containing PCB-degrading biofilms will enhance aerobic
biodegradation of LC-PCBs in contaminated sediments, thereby decreasing their emission into the
atmosphere. Our hypothesis is based on preliminary studies showing that bioaugmentation of aerobic PCB-
degrading bacteria into soils catalyzes improved biodegradation of certain LC-PCB congeners. We also show
that aerobic PCB-degrading bacteria form biofilms on black carbon materials, indicating their potential as
delivery vehicles for introducing PCB-degrading bacteria into sediments. Guided by these preliminary data, we
will test our central hypothesis by: 1) optimizing tailored black carbon materials with sorptive and reactive
properties toward LC-PCBs and the ability to host aerobic PCB-degrading biofilms; 2) evaluating the
performance of black carbon materials containing aerobic PCB-degrading biofilms to lower LC-PCB
concentrations in water and air under relevant environmental conditions; and 3) scaling up production of
biofilm-coated black carbon materials to demonstrate the feasibility of decreasing airborne PCB flux from
contaminated sediments at the mesocosm-scale. Our work will rely on the support of ISRP cores for synthesis
and analytical assessment of PCBs in study samples. The proposed research is innovative because the
relationship between the removal of LC-PCB congeners from sediments and PCB emissions has not been
studied. There are currently no developed or tested biotechnologies to decrease or prevent airborne PCB
emissions from sediments. Our project is relevant to the SRP mandates because we will develop advanced
methods to decrease the amount and toxicity of PCBs in the environment. Outcomes of this project will benefit
human health by reducing human exposure to airborne PCBs and realize economic benefits by demonstrating
breakthrough alternative PCB remediation approaches that minimize expensive and disruptive measures such
as dredging.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9839868
- **Project number:** 2P42ES013661-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy E. Mattes
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $241,295
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9839868

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9839868, Mitigating Airborne PCB Emissions from Sediments with Black Carbon Materials and PCB-Degrading Biofilms (2P42ES013661-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9839868. Licensed CC0.

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