In a 2011 Oak Ridge case study, ethanol-fed microbes cut uranium in groundwater from 40-60 mg/L to below the US drinking-water limit

By utilizing ethanol injections, researchers effectively stimulated indigenous bacteria to aid in the cleanup of uranium contamination. This innovative method was able to convert ethanol into acetate, which energized the reduction of uranium within the sediment. Over two years, levels of uranium in groundwater fell below the EPA's safe drinking water threshold, thanks to the ongoing delivery of ethanol that helped maintain these low levels.