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U.S. Department of Energy
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Biosurfactant-enhanced soil bioremediation

Conference ·
OSTI ID:374623
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Western Ontario, London, Ontario (Canada)
Bioremediation of soil contaminated with organic chemicals is a viable alternative method for clean-up and remedy of hazardous waste sites. The final objective in this approach is to convert the parent toxicant into a readily biodegradable product which is harmless to human health and/or the environment. Biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soil can also efficiently be enhanced by addition or in-situ production of biosufactants. It was generally observed that the degradation time was shortened and particularly the adaptation time for the microbes. More data from our laboratories showed that chlorinated aromatic compounds, such as 2,4-dichlorophenol, a herbicide Metolachlor, as well as naphthalene are degraded faster and more completely when selected biosurfactants are added to the soil. More recent data demonstrated an enhanced biodegradation of heavy hydrocarbons in petrochemical sludges, and in contaminated oil when biosurfactants were present or were added prior to the biodegradation process.
Research Organization:
North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks, ND (United States)
OSTI ID:
374623
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/30097--5161-Pt.2; CONF-9410458--Pt.2; ON: DE96011553
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English