Remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils in the Canadian Arctic by landfarming

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

“…The inhibitory effects of excess nutrient addition on soil osmotic potential and its implications for biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons have been well reported in sub-Antarctic soils (Walworth et al 2006. Analyses of microbial communities at several sites in the Northern Hemisphere indicate the presence of indigenous cold-adapted hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms capable of facilitating bioremediation by biostimulation (Rike et al 2001;Rike et al 2003;Paudyn et al 2008;Chang et al 2010;Bell et al 2013). Mair et al (2013) reports that nutrient addition at 208C removed !90% of soil TPH, whereas only 69% TPH removal was reported at 108C at a former alpine military site in Italy (Mair et al 2013).…”

“…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).…”

“…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). 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).…”

“…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). Delille (2000) studied the effects of diesel fuel addition on Antarctic bacterial assemblages in four contaminated soils over one year.…”

Petroleum Hydrocarbon Biodegradation under Seasonal Freeze−Thaw Soil Temperature Regimes in Contaminated Soils from a Sub-Arctic Site

“…The contaminated soils were obtained from a former military radar site in RI, (61°30′ N, 65°00′ W) where petroleum hydrocarbon contamination occurred between 1954 and 1974 (3,12). Petroleumcontaminated soils were excavated at the RI site and shipped frozen in sealed containers.…”