Feasibility of on-Site Bioremediation of Loam Soil Contaminated by Diesel Oil

Abstract

This study originated from an accidental event of diesel oil contamination in a loam soil area of 7,000 m2. Approximately a volume of 1,300 m3 of diesel oil was released into the environment. Reclamation of the contaminated soil by on-site bioremediation was selected as the most appropriate treatment method. A major concern was associated with the nature of the local loam soil. Loam has a very low hydraulic conductivity and very quickly becomes impermeable after its contact with water. The bioremediation approach incorporated excavation of the contaminated soil, mixing it with an agent, which increased its permeability. Following this preliminary treatment came the construction of bioreactors as a suitable environment of nutrients, moisture, dissolved oxygen, and enriched culture of microorganisms, which enabled breakdown of the diesel oil. This case study indicated that the target of 99% of diesel oil clean up could be achieved by using the technology of on-site bioremediation. The selected treatment method was found to be technologically and economically feasible. However, some improvement in the application of the basic treatment approach might increase the bioremediation efficiency.

Biological Remediation of Petroleum Contaminants

“…The development of the inoculum should consider a shortened life cycle to full-scale production, competitive advantage, and cost savings. Enriched microbial consortia have been found useful to treat diesel-contaminated loam soil (Rubin and Narkis 2001). In a large-scale contaminated soil study carried out by our group, bioaugmentation of an inoculum consisting of a consortium of enriched microorganisms along with nutrients achieved degradation of 89-92% of TPH (Mishra et al 2001a).…”

Efficient Extraction of Fuel Oil Hydrocarbons from Wood

“…During catastrophic floods (as that in Grand Forks, ND, USA, April 1997), fuel oil tanks located in residential basements ruptured, forcing the spilled oil, mixed with flood water, to become entrapped in the pores of wooden framing structures (as well as other building materials). Fuel oil is a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons, e.g., aliphatic (alkanes, cycloalkanes, and olefins from approximately C 10 to C 23 ), aromatic (alkylbenzenes, toluene, naphthalenes), and polycyclic (3).…”

Optimisation research of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in weathered drilling wastes from waste pits

“…In order to apply the optimum method of reduction of oil contaminants found in waste pits, interdisciplinary analyses of laboratory as well as in situ test results are necessary. Welldesigned research can enable determination of the most appropriate method of remediation (Rubin & Narkis 2001, Mishra et al 2001.…”