The feasibility of using bioventing to remediate fuel oil contaminated soils

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:416866

Gan, D R; Wright, C C

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using, bioventing to remediate soils contaminated with heavy fuel oil at a site in northern Wisconsin. The test site consisted of poorly graded sands of varying grain size with occasional intervals of sand and gravel. Groundwater occurred at a depth of 21 m (70 feet). The study was implemented using one test well and three soil gas monitoring points. Each monitoring point included a nest of three monitoring probes at different depths. A portable soil vapor extraction vacuum blower installed at the test well was used to pull fresh air into the soils. The blower was run continuously for 4 weeks, except when oxygen (O{sub 2}) and carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) concentrations at the monitoring points were periodically monitored. In situ respiration tests indicated that the subsurface O{sub 2} concentrations decreased with time, following first-order disappearance behavior. The pilot study demonstrated that in situ bioventing enhanced the in situ bioactivity and degrade residual fuel oil in the unsaturated soils. Estimated biodegradation rates for heavy fuel oil in unsaturated soils are within the range of 20 to 90 mg/kg-day.

• OSTI ID: 416866
• Report Number(s): CONF-951023--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
FUEL OILS
HYDROCARBONS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS