skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: A method for predicting the extent of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soils

Conference ·
OSTI ID:400695
 [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States). Engineering Technology Center

A series of solid- and slurry-phase soil bioremediation experiments involving different crude oils and refined petroleum products were performed to investigate the factors which affect the maximum extent of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) biodegradation. The authors used a comprehensive petroleum hydrocarbon characterization procedure involving group-type separation analyses, boiling-point distributions, and hydrocarbon typing by field ionization mass spectroscopy. Initial and final concentrations of specified hydrocarbon classes were determined in each of seven different bioremediation treatments. Generally, they found that the degree of TPH biodegradation was affected mainly by the type of hydrocarbons in the contaminant matrix. In contrast, the influence of experimental variables such as soil type, fertilizer concentrations, microbial plate counts, and treatment type (slurry versus landfarming) on the overall extent of TPH biodegradation was insignificant. Based on these findings, a predictive algorithm was developed to estimate the extent of TPH biodegradation from the average reduction of 86 individual hydrocarbon classes and their respective initial concentrations. Model predictions for gravimetric TPH removals were in close agreement with analytical results from two independent laboratories.

OSTI ID:
400695
Report Number(s):
CONF-941124-; ISBN 0-935470-85-9; TRN: 96:030222
Resource Relation:
Conference: 33. Hanford symposium on health and the environment: symposium on in-situ remediation--scientific basis for current and future technologies, Richland, WA (United States), 7-11 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of In-situ remediation: Scientific basis for current and future technologies. Part 1; Gee, G.W. [ed.] [Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)]; Wing, N.R. [ed.] [Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)]; PB: 704 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English