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About BCI

Bioremediation Consulting Inc. (BCI) provides microbiological and analytical services for environmental and engineering companies working with chlorinated solvents and other recalcitrant chemicals such as 1,4-dioxane. We also address petroleum and coal tar remediation. Our services include microcosm and treatability testing, laboratory investigation of natural attenuation, support for site remediation and field monitoring, product testing, and development of bacterial cultures for bioaugmentation. Our anaerobic cultures include several strains of Dehalococcoides, as well as cultures that degrade 1,1,1-TCA, dichloromethane, and toluene.

BCI specializes in site-specific design of microcosm tests constructed from site soil and ground water. These microcosms are monitored by BCI to determine the extent and nature of natural attenuation processes, as well as the potential for enhanced in situ bioremediation. We have conducted 150 tests to date on soils and groundwaters from 100 different sites.

BCI has developed specialized techniques for the manipulation of a wide variety of microorganisms under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and the capability for evaluating their contribution to contaminant biodegradation.

The BCI laboratory has expertise in the analysis of:

  • Natural Attenuation Parameters
  • Dissolved gases such as methane, ethene, and ethane by gas chromatography.
  • Volatile chlorinated compounds GC screens.
  • Alcohols, glycols and water soluble ethers by gas chromatography.
  • Organic acids such as formate, lactate, and acetate by capillary ion electrophoresis and by ion chromatography.
  • Molecular hydrogen by reduction gas analysis.
  • PCR based identification of environmentally active microbial species such as Dehalococcoides ethenogenes.
  • Microbiological enumeration of total heterotrophs and specific chemical degrading bacteria.

    • Anaerobic Dechlorinating Cultures

    BCI works with clients to develop site-specific dechlorinating cultures (ethenogens) for bioaugmentation. We can use site groundwater to obtain dechlorinating bacteria able to convert PCE to ethene, and provide them in culture volumes suitable for bioaugmentation. BCI also maintains a collection of dechlorinating (ethenogenic), mixed cultures able to grow under geochemical conditions ranging from high to low concentrations of chloride and sulfate .

    Aerobic Co-Metabolic Cultures

    We also work with clients to develop site-specific aerobic cultures capable of co-metabolizing contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane, and low ppb concentrations of vinyl chloride. Cultures include: propanotrophs, ethenotrophs, and methanotrophs.

    BCI works with engineering clients to develop site remedial plans and to determine the role of natural attenuation at their site. For site investigation and monitoring, BCI provides analytical services, data interpretation, and consultation on the biodegradability of chemical contaminants under a range of aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

    BCI was founded in 1991 by senior scientists Dr. Margaret Findlay and Dr. Samuel Fogel, both of whom have been specializing in subsurface microbiology for more than 15 years and have published widely on anaerobic and aerobic microbial dechlorination. BCI has recently moved to their new offices and laboratory in Watertown, MA. Publication milestones for BCI's senior staff are listed here.