Bioremediation of contaminated harbor sediments. 1: Biotechnological aspects
- SILT NV, Antwerp (Belgium)
- Univ. of Ghent (Belgium)
Bioremediation of contaminated sediments is considered to offer major possibilities. This project focused on biological removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), mineral oil and tributyltin (TBT) from contaminated sediments. A concrete problem was tackled at the Fishery Harbour in Zeebrugge (B) as a test case involving 3 test phases : bench, pilot and full scale application. One of the important elements, inhibiting the degradation, is the bioavailability of the contaminants. Therefore, the monitoring of nutrients (C/N/P-ratio), the level of oxygen saturation in the sediment, the effect of adding surfactants, enzyme inducing factors and precursors to enhance breakdown, was studied. The breakdown ability was tested by means of a standard procedure involving the addition of commercially available microbial inocula, combined with necessary additives into separately monitored 1 liter reactors. A grid with more than 60 different reactors was assessed. It was found from respiratory experiments that in most cases the sediment can be conditioned to act as a battery system for maintaining the essential aerobic conditions for degradation of the organic compounds. It also appeared that complete oxygen saturation enhanced the degradation. Finally, the use of surfactants proved not to be essential whereas the exact dosage of nitrogen and phosphorus was more influential. The biodegradation was monitored by {sup 14}C experiments. A pilot scale test focused on technological aspects of mixing and fluidizing sediment in an oxygenated environment. Furthermore, dewatering of decontaminated sediment, involving lagooning with specially developed landfarming techniques and post treatment of the water phase was studied. This approach provided necessary information to enable full scale remediation.
- OSTI ID:
- 367478
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9640%%224
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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