Bioremediation of organic contaminated soil

Journal Article · · Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1089/hwm.1992.9.137· OSTI ID:7177245

Warith, M A ^[1]; Ferehner, R ^[2]; Fernandes, L ^[3]

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1. Golder Associates Ltd., Ottana, Ontario (Canada)
2. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)
3. Ottawa University Civil Engineering Department, Ontario (Canada)

Bioremediation of organic contaminated soil is a treatment technology that, depending on the site-specific conditions, can reduce the organic contaminants to an acceptable level which meets the remediation criteria established by the regulatory agency. This paper presents the results of a pilot program which was conducted during the summer and fall of 1988 to bioremediate about 5,000 cubic meters of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) contaminated soil at a former oil gasification plant in Ontario. The bioremediation of the contaminated soil involved the proper control of the various parameters necessary to enhance the microbial degradation of the organic contaminants. The biotreatment operation resulted in a decrease of all contaminants which were monitored during the course of the study. Benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) compounds decreased by 73 percent, oil and grease by 36 percent, and PAH compounds by 86 percent. Four and five ring PAH compounds such as pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) were only reduced by 60 percent. The percentage reduction of PAH concentration decreases as the molecular weight and number of aromatic rings increase.

• OSTI ID: 7177245
• Journal Information: Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials; (United States), Journal Name: Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN 0882-5696; ISSN HWHME2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
CANADA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
DECONTAMINATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROCARBONS
LAND POLLUTION
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PROCESSING
REMEDIAL ACTION
SITE SURVEYS
SOILS
TOLUENE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
XYLENES