Field-Scale Bioremediation of Soil Contaminated with Crude Oil

Abstract

Field-scale remediation of oil-contaminated soils from the Liaohe Oil Fields in China was examined using composting biopiles in windrow technology. Micronutrient-enriched chicken excrement and rice husk were applied as nutrition and a bulking agent. The lipase activities of indigenous micro-organisms were analyzed, and three indigenous fungi with high lipase activities was identified. An inoculum consisting of the three indigenous fungi and one introduced (exotic) fungus was applied to four different types of oil-contaminated soils. The results showed that the inoculum of indigenous fungi increased both the total colony-forming units (TCFU) and increased the rate of degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in all contaminated soils but at different rates. In sharp contrast to other studies, the introduction of exotic micro-organisms did not improve the remediation, and suggests that inoculation of oil-contaminated sites with nonindigenous species is likely to fail. On the other hand, indigenous genera of microbes were found to be very effective in increasing the rate of degradation of TPH. The degradation of TPH was mainly controlled by the compositions of aromatic hydrocarbons and asphaltene and resin. Between 38 to 57% degradation of crude oils (with densities ranging from 25,800 to 77,200 mg/kg dry weight) in contaminated soils was achieved after 53 days of operation. The degradation patterns followed typical firstorder reactions. We demonstrate that the construction and operation of field-scale composting biopiles in windrows with passive aeration is a cost-effective bioremediation technology.

Characterisation of the rhizoremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil: effect of different influencing factors

“…In some cases, the population of introduced strains may remain stable even after one year (Mishra et al, 2001). However, researchers reported that the introduction of exotic microorganisms did not improve the remediation and that the inoculation of oil-contaminated sites with nonindigenous species is likely to fail (Li et al, 2002;Thomassin-Lacroix et al, 2002;Cavalca et al, 2002). It is suggested that the effect and efficiency of inoculated microorganism depend on the environmental conditions such as the existence of indigenous microorganisms, nutrient level and amount of inoculation.…”

An overview and analysis of site remediation technologies

“…This is a short-term technology and may last from a few weeks to a few months (FRTR, 1999l). Biopiles are similar to landfarming but in the latter the soil is aerated through tilling or plowing (USEPA, 1998e;Jorgensen et al, 2000;Filler et al, 2001;Li et al, 2002).…”

“…Therefore, the successful treatment of a contaminated site depends on proper selection, design, and adjustment of the remediation technology's operations based on the properties of the contaminants and soils and on the performance of the system. Detailed descriptions of individual technologies can be found in Chareneau et al (1995), API (1993), Alexander (1994), Demars et al (1995), and Anderson (1995), USEPA reports (USEPA, 1995(USEPA, -1998, Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable reports (FRTR, 1999a -q), Reddy et al (1999), RAAG (2000), Feng et al (2001), Hejazi (2002), Kao et al (2001), Li et al (2002), Abbott et al (2002), Guerin et al (2002), Barnes (2003), Chu (2003), Halmemies et al (2003), Khan and Husain (2003), Juhasz et al (2003), Liang et al (2003), Wilk (2003) and Wait and Thomas (2003).…”

Theoretical Application of Decision Support System in Petroleum Contaminated Ogoniland in South-Southern Nigeria

“…Another reason why natural attenuation has failed is the presence of silty clay or pure clay soil in some areas. Natural attenuation does not work well in fine grained soils [34][35][36][37][38][39][40].…”