A treatability assay determines the potential for pollutant biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms naturally present in the matrix (soil, water, sediment).

The objective of these assays is to determine 1) whether microorganisms capable of degrading pollutant(s) are present (and how many are present) and active and 2) if environmental conditions are propitious to their development.

Treatability assays differ from feasibility assays by a punctual analysis at time T (feasibility assays are characterized by monitoring over time the evolution of physico-chemical and biological parameters and an ability to assess different treatment strategies). A treatability assay is generally performed upstream of a feasibility assay.

Physicochemical data are combined with the microbiological data in order to establish whether a treatment by bioremediation is viable.

These assays can be performed for different types of matrices (e.g., soil, water, sediment…) and for all types of compounds for which microorganisms or genes encoding enzymes responsible for the biodegradation have been identified (or can be identified).

Examples of pollutants for which we have performed treatability or feasibility assays:

• Hydrocarbons, crude oils, PAHs, BTEX, PCB, chlorinated solvents (PCE, TCE, DCE, VC…), pesticides, explosives, polar solvents, monochloroacetic acid, organochlorines (Lindane, MCB, chlorobenzenes…), nitronaphthalenes, anilines, styrene, ETBE, perchlorates…

• These tests can also be adapted for trace element pollution: such as chromium, manganese and others

The data generated are used to support decisions regarding the establishment of the best suited treatment and are contextualized to assess the best pollution control strategies that may be considered on (at) a site, without predicting the duration of treatment. A feasibility assay will provide such information in order to design the remediation project.