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Remediation of petroleum contaminated soil and groundwater using in-situ bioreclamation

Conference · · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)
OSTI ID:6700738
; ;  [1]
  1. Du Pont Environmental Remediation Services, Aston, PA (USA)

In-situ bioreclamation is an effective method for remediation of petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated soils and groundwater. In many cases, the native soil and groundwater microorganisms can biodegrade organic contaminants that have been spilled onto the soil and/or contaminated the groundwater. However, the microorganisms are limited in their ability to biodegrade the organics by the availability of oxygen and inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate. In-situ bioreclamation provides the microorganisms with the proper conditions for rapid biodegradation of many petroleum hydrocarbons including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and aviation fuel. In-situ bioreclamation can also be used to remediate soils and groundwater contaminated with nonpetroleum contaminants so long as the compounds are biodegradable. The time required for in-situ bioreclamation of a site will be controlled by the rate at which groundwater, carrying oxygen and nutrients, can be circulated through the formation and by the choice of the oxygen source. In-situ bioreclamation has been successfully applied in many sites. At one site in the Eastern US, over 10,000 gal of gasoline adsorbed in the soil was completely removed by in-situ bioreclamation. At another site in the Midwestern US, in-situ bioreclamation was able to remove almost all of the aviation fuel below the water table within two years.

OSTI ID:
6700738
Report Number(s):
CONF-900605--
Journal Information:
AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 74:5; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English