Bioremediation of experimental petroleum spills on mineral soils in the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Polar Biology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238926· OSTI ID:6511537

Kerry, E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tasmania (Australia)

The effect of nutrient and water enhancement on the biodegradation of petroleum was tested in Antarctic mineral soils. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied in solution, with or without gum xanthan or plastic covers, to sites artificially contaminated with distillate. The effectiveness of these procedures was assessed by measuring changes in total petroleum hydrocarbons; heptadecane/pristane and octadecane/phytane ratios; in concentrations of major hydrocarbon components and in microbial numbers and activity. Significantly lower hydrocarbon concentration were recorded after one year in soils treated with fertilizer solutions, but only in the surface 3 cm. These soils also showed lowered heptadecane/pristane and octadecane/phytane ratios and had the highest levels of microbial activity relative to other plots. Soils treated with gum xanthan or covered with plastic had the highest residual hydrocarbon levels. Both treatments inhibited evaporative loss of hydrocarbon, and there were indications that gum xanthan was utilized by the microbiota as an alternative carbon source to distillate. Higher temperatures were recorded under the plastic but no stimulation of biodegradation was detected. Estimated numbers of metabolically active bacteria were in the range 10[sup 7] to 10[sup 8] g[sup [minus]1] dry weight of soil, with an estimated biomass of 0.03 to 0.26 mg g[sup [minus]1] soil. Estimated numbers of amoebae were in the range 10[sup 6] 10[sup 7] g[sup [minus]1] soil (biomass of 2 to 4 mg g[sup [minus]1]). The highest populations were recorded in fertilized, contaminated soils, the only soils where petroleum degradation was demonstrated. 23 refs., 1 fig., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6511537
• Journal Information: Polar Biology; (United States), Journal Name: Polar Biology; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN POBIDP; ISSN 0722-4060
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METALS
AMOEBA
ANIMALS
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
CRYOSPHERE
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FERTILIZERS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OIL SPILLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PHOSPHORUS
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTANTS
POTASSIUM
PROTOZOA
SARCODINA
SOILS
WATER