Bioremediation and detoxification of hydrocarbon pollutants in soil
As a cleanup alterative, the bioremediation potential of soil, contaminated by spills of three medium petroleum distillates, jet fuel heating oil (No. 2 fuel oil) and diesel fuel was evaluated in controlled-temperature laboratory soil columns and in outdoor lysimeters. Solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography (GC) was used routinely for analysis of fuel residues. Occasionally, class separation and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were also used in residue characterization. The decrease in toxic residues was evaluated by Microtox and Ames tests. Seed germination and plant growth bioassays were also performed. Persistence and toxicity of the fuels increased in the order of jet fuel [lt] heating oil [lt] diesel fuel. Bioremediation consisting of liming, fertilization and tilling decreased the half-lives of the pollutants in soil by a factor of 2-3. Biodegradation was faster at 27C than at 17 or 37C, but hydrocarbon concentration and soil quality had only modest influence on biodegradation rates and did not preclude successful bioremediation of these contaminated soils within one growing season. Microbial activity measurements by the fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis assay confirmed that microbial activity was the principal force in hydrocarbon elimination. Bioremediation was highly effective in eliminating also the polycyclic aromatic components of diesel fuel. The bioremediation and detoxification of fuel-contaminated soil was corroborated by Microtox, Ames and plant growth bioassays.
- Research Organization:
- Rutgers-the State Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7026278
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
SOILS
DECONTAMINATION
DETOXIFICATION
FUEL OILS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
JET ENGINE FUELS
LAND POLLUTION
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
REMEDIAL ACTION
SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATES
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LIQUID FUELS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
SALMONELLA
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology