The fate of BDAT polynuclear aromatic compounds during biotreatment of refinery API oil separator sludge
- Shell Development Company, Houston, TX (United States)
A 16 week laboratory study was conducted to assess the biotreatability of regulated (BDAT list) polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNA) in refinery API oil separator sludge. The three different treatments consisted of a biotic, nutrient amended, inoculated aerated slurry reactor, a second biotic oxygen-sparged reactor, and a sterile, nitrogen-sparged control. Naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, and benzo(a)pyrene were completely biodegraded in the first 4 weeks in both biotic treatments. Chrysene disappeared within 4 weeks in the aerated bioreactor, whereas it required 16 weeks to degrade in the oxygen-sparged reactor. Pyrene degraded only 30% in the aerated bioreactor and did not exhibit any significant concentration changes in the oxygen-sparged reactor. Phenanthrene, chrysene, and pyrene concentration levels did not change significantly during the 16 week treatment period in the nitrogen-sparged control reactor indicating the absence of stripping losses for these PNAs. By contrast, naphthalene, anthracene, and benzo(a)pyrene levels remained constant during the first 2-4 weeks in the control but decreased to below detection limits (5 mg/kg) at the end of the treatment. It is not clear whether the disappearance of these compounds is due to stripping, irreversible sorption or some anaerobic/aerobic biodegradation processes. In conclusion, the aerobic biotreatment of refinery API oil separator sludge was successful in removing most BDAT PNA compounds. The reduced biodegradability of pyrene may be explained in terms of either the inherently low biodegradation rate of this compound or the limited bioavailability in the weathered oily sludge system. 24 refs., 9 figs., 2 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6422868
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Progress; (United States) Vol. 12:1; ISSN 0278-4491; ISSN ENVPDI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020800 -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ANTHRACENE
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BENZOPYRENE
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHRYSENE
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MICROORGANISMS
NAPHTHALENE
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PH VALUE
PHENANTHRENE
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SLUDGES
TRACER TECHNIQUES