The objective of this study was to stimulate microbial biodegradation of petroleum pollution in groundwater and to analyze changes in the abundance and distribution of organic compounds detectable in petroleum. Bioremediation was conducted in a closed bipolar system, by bioaugmentation with consortia of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms (HD) and biostimulation with nutrients. Comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC × GC–MS) was used to visualize all fractions simultaneously. During the study, the content of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in groundwater decreased by 92.7% of the initial level, and the average rate of biodegradation was 0.1 mg/L per day. Increased numbers of HD were observed and the dominant genera were Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Achromobacter, Bacillus, and Micromonospora. In the first 30 days of bioremediation, there was no significant biodegradation of n‐alkanes and petroleum biomarkers – isoprenoids such as pristane and phytane, and polycyclic‐saturated hydrocarbons such as terpanes and steranes. However, after 60 days of bioremediation, more than 95% of n‐alkanes, terpanes and steranes were biodegraded. Phenanthrene and its methyl‐, dimethyl‐, and trimethyl‐isomers were biodegraded and reduced by more than 99% of their initial levels. However, their decomposition had clearly commenced after just 30 days. This is a somewhat surprising result since it follows that the phenanthrenes were more susceptible to biodegradation than the n‐alkanes and isoprenoids. Depending on the microbial community used for bioaugmentation, biodegradation of phenanthrene can precede biodegradation of saturated hydrocarbons.
The role of natural attenuation processes in groundwater contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons is of intense scientific and practical interest. This study provides insight into the biodegradation effects in groundwater at a site contaminated by kerosene (jet fuel) in 1993 (Vitanovac, Serbia). Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), hydrochemical indicators (O, NO, Mn, Fe, SO, HCO), δC of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and other parameters were measured to demonstrate biodegradation effects in groundwater at the contaminated site. Due to different biodegradation mechanisms, the zone of the lowest concentrations of electron acceptors and the zone of the highest concentrations of metabolic products of biodegradation overlap. Based on the analysis of redox-sensitive compounds in groundwater samples, redox processes ranged from strictly anoxic (methanogenesis) to oxic (oxygen reduction) within a short distance. The dependence of groundwater redox conditions on the distance from the source of contamination was observed. δC values of DIC ranged from - 15.83 to - 2.75‰, and the most positive values correspond to the zone under anaerobic and methanogenic conditions. Overall, results obtained provide clear evidence on the effects of natural attenuation processes-the activity of biodegradation mechanisms in field conditions.
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