A model system for cocomposting hydrocarbon contaminated soil by using water activity and porosity as response variables

Biodegradation and Leaching of Surfactants During Surfactant-Amended Bioremediation of Oil-Polluted Soil

“…The activity of the indigenous microorganisms can be inhibited through the non optimal environmental conditions (content of oxygen, moisture and/or nutrients, pH) or insufficient availability (hydrophobic contaminants) or degradability (xenobiotics) of pollutants. Therefore it is necessary to optimize the conditions to activate the work of microorganisms [12,14,15]. Water activity is considered to be proportional to free water that is able to transport soluble nutrients to the biomass, in contrast with moisture which includes all water content (available and non-available) [14].…”

“…Therefore it is necessary to optimize the conditions to activate the work of microorganisms [12,14,15]. Water activity is considered to be proportional to free water that is able to transport soluble nutrients to the biomass, in contrast with moisture which includes all water content (available and non-available) [14]. It is important to note that the contamination by hydrocarbons increased biochemical and microbial activities and improved soil structure [16].…”

“…By adding an organic matrix to contaminated soil the general microbial activity is enhanced and also the activity of specific degraders, which may be found in the contaminated soil or introduced along with the organic material [10]. The mixing of polluted soil with different organic material will be the better solution to enhance the biodegradation of xenobiotic pollutants and that technique is called cocomposting as it is the process of simultaneous stabilizing organic matter and degrading toxic compounds (pollutants) [14,90,91].…”

Statistical factor-screening and optimization in slurry phase bioremediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene contaminated soil

“…A combination of statistical and mathematical techniques is then employed to model the system response and predict the optimal level of effective factors [38]. Although statistical modeling and optimization have formerly been used for biodegradation of some contaminants in aqueous [44][45][46] and solid [47][48][49] phases, no statistical optimization has yet been applied to slurry phase bioremediation of TNT-contaminated soils. The aims of the present study are hence to statistically optimize slurry phase TR in shake flasks and further to evaluate the effect of aeration rate on TR in slurry bioreactor.…”

When can surfactants enhance hydrocarbon biodegradation in oil biotreatments?

“…Total petroleum hydrocarbons were extracted from the soil samples with a mixture of hexane: acetone 1:1 (v/v) and determined by gravimetric analysis according to Aguilera-Vázquez et al [1].…”