Remediation of Frozen Ground Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons: Feasibility and Limits

On-site and in situ remediation technologies applicable to petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic

“…Landfarming is one of the most commonly used technologies used for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil (Filler et al 2009). Landfarming involves treating a flat layer of contained, contaminated soil (up to 1.0 m in thickness) by applying nutrients and aerating the soil through periodic tilling to promote the biodegradation and volatilization of petroleum hydrocarbons (Paudyn et al 2008;Filler et al 2009).…”

“…Landfarming involves treating a flat layer of contained, contaminated soil (up to 1.0 m in thickness) by applying nutrients and aerating the soil through periodic tilling to promote the biodegradation and volatilization of petroleum hydrocarbons (Paudyn et al 2008;Filler et al 2009). Treatment strategies vary for landfarms and can be tailored according to site-specific characteristics including climate, location, soil type and temperature (Paudyn et al 2008).…”

“…Treatment strategies vary for landfarms and can be tailored according to site-specific characteristics including climate, location, soil type and temperature (Paudyn et al 2008). Nutrient amendments, pH buffers and bulking agents may be applied to stimulate aeration of co-substrates, microbial metabolism or bacterial inoculations and can significantly increase remediation efficiency (Straube et al 2003;Paudyn et al 2008;Filler et al 2009). The success of landfarming in temperate environments is well reported (McCarthy et al 2004); however, landfarming trials in cold regions are comparatively scarce and field trials from the Antarctic and Arctic have revealed conflicting results (Delille 2000;Aislabie et al 2004;McCarthy et al 2004;Paudyn et al 2008;Chang et al 2010).…”

“…Furthermore, since the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is slower in cold regions, it is important to ensure that off-site migration of petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soil into groundwater does not occur during remediation. Leachate can be regulated by constructing natural or engineered berms and through the application of clay and polymer based liners at the base of the site which allows pumping and redistribution of leachate across the landfarm (Paudyn et al 2008;Filler et al 2009;Environment Canada 2013;Hosney & Rowe 2014). Finally, excess soil moisture (!33.0%) can lead to poor aeration, reduce the degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons and encourage contaminant migration; thereby reducing the effectiveness of landfarming (Bolton 2012).…”

Bioremediation of endosulfan in laboratory-scale constructed wetlands: effect of bioaugmentation and biostimulation

“…Although some researches demonstrated their effectiveness in contamination removal, while others doubted. The survival of extraadding microbe is threatened by both abiotic and biotic conditions, and their potential to become invasive microbe or impact on the local ecology remains unknown (Filler et al 2009). The applied nutrients do not always work either (Yu et al 2011).…”