The current favoured method of dealing with such groundwater contaminants is to remove the soil to landfill, which can be costly, both financially and in terms of energy usage.
The Leeds methods being developed will allow treatment to take place on site, which is safer, more energy efficient and much cheaper.
Current environmental regulations mean that before the team can test out its research findings in the field, they need water-tight proof that their methods can work, as it is illegal to introduce any substance into groundwater - even where it is contaminated - unless it has been shown to be beneficial.
"From the results we have so far, I am certain that we can develop a viable treatment for former industrial sites where chromate compounds are a problem," said Dr Stewart.
"By designing a clean-up method that promotes the growth of naturally occurring bacteria without introducing or engineering new bacteria, we are effectively hitting every environmental target possible," he added.
Source-ANI
TAN/L