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APPLICATION STRATEGIES AND DESIGN CRITERIA FOR IN SITU BIOREMEDIATION OF SOIL AND GROUNDWATER IMPACTED BY PAHS
Citation:
Borchert, S. M., J. G. Mueller, E. J. Alesi, AND C. A. Leins. APPLICATION STRATEGIES AND DESIGN CRITERIA FOR IN SITU BIOREMEDIATION OF SOIL AND GROUNDWATER IMPACTED BY PAHS. Presented at Eighth International IGT Symposium on Gas, Oil and Environmental Biotechnology, Colorado Springs, CO, December 11 - 13, 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation
Description:
Biotreatability studies conducted in our laboratory used soils from two former wood-treatment facilities to evaluate the use of in situ bioventing and biosparging applications for their potential ability to remediate soil and groundwater containing creosote. The combination of physical, chemical and microbiological analytical data from these studies suggested that biodegradation or creosote polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be stimulated by adding oxygen and nitrogen to the indigenous microflora. Over the relatively short time frame of these studies, however, biodegradation of potentially carcinogenic PAHs (pc PAHs) was limited, which is in accordance with much of the existing scientific literature. Nevertheless, on a site-specific basis, appropriately designed in situ bioremediation systems may represent effective strategies for degrading PAHs and affecting in situ chemical containment. Critical to the future success of bioventing/biosparging applications for PAh-impacted environments is the continued development and refinement of effective implementation tools. These must offer better means of delivering essential co-reagents, such as oxygen and nitrogen, and must possess the potential to integrate biotechnological advances. One such system attempting to increase the efficiency of site remediation is the "Multifunctional Well" Technology. To maximize remediation progress, different technologies are combined to operate in one multi-process remediation well. Thus, various remediation processes are integrated to remove certain types and/or suites of contaminants. For example, vapor extraction/in situ air stripping removes volatile (e.g. naphthalene) organics, while bioremediation of more persistent organics (e.g. fluoranthene) is enhanced by circular air and water flow. Remediation success can be maximized by applying these complementary processes. Depending on the extent and degree of contamination, individual treatment steps can be omitted or operated simultaneously. All four treatments can be carried out in one remediation well in situ which offers significant advantages over other systems.