Bioremediation of ethylbenzene- and styrene-contaminated soil using biopiles

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:479355

Benazon, N; Belanger, D W; Scheurlen, D B ^[1]; Lesky, M J ^[2]

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1. CH2M Hill Engineering Ltd., Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)
2. Novacor Chemicals Inc., Concord, MA (United States)

Two 26-m(L) x 12-m(W) x 2.5-m(H) biopiles (one active and one passive), containing 500 m{sup 3} of soil contaminated with ethylbenzene, styrene, and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), were constructed and operated over the winter and spring months. In the active pile, a 99% reduction in ethylbenzene and styrene concentrations and a 97% reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbons concentrations was achieved within 85 days of operation. Based on mass balance calculations, 98% of the mass removed was attributed to biodegradation; the remaining mass loss was by volatilization. Similar reductions in contaminant concentrations were achieved in the passive pile following 168 days of treatment at depths ranging from 0 to 0.8 m below the biopile surface. Very little or no treatment occurred at greater depths because bioremediation was limited by surface diffusion of oxygen into the biopile. Based on the results, both an active or a passive system could be used to remediate soils from a polystyrene plant. The passive pile would need a longer treatment time and more space because the height would have to be limited to 0.8 m. However, the cost of remediation would be lower because off-gas treatment and associated monitoring and maintenance would not be required.

• OSTI ID: 479355
• Report Number(s): CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-010-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
HYDROCARBONS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
STYRENE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT