Grantee Research Project Results
1999 Progress Report: Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of Soils Containing Petrochemicals
EPA Grant Number: R827015C002Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827015
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment
Center Director: Allen, Herbert E.
Title: Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of Soils Containing Petrochemicals
Investigators: Lanno, Roman , Duncan, Kathleen E
Institution: University of Oklahoma
Current Institution: Oklahoma State University , University of Tulsa
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: February 1, 1999 through January 31, 2000 (Extended to June 30, 2000)
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 1, 1999 through January 31, 2000
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
The major accomplishments of this quarter were:
- Microbial assessment of soil
- Finished dialysis and cleanup of SPMDs
- Initial chemical characterization of SPMD dialysates
- Presentation at IPEC meeting in Houston
Work this quarter consisted of characterizing soil microbial community assessment and beginning the analysis of the dialysates from SPMDs deployed on site during the previous quarter. TPH analysis of the soils was also completed.
Soil samples were taken for microbial enumeration in March, June, and July. Recently contaminated areas in the north lobe of the spill site (S1, S2, S3, S4) exhibited somewhat higher densities of culturable aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and much higher numbers of bacteria able to use a representative aromatic hydrocarbon (naphthalene) as a sole carbon source, than an uncontaminated, tilled site nearby, or sites which had been contaminated with crude oil eight years previously. Characterization of a subset of the culturable bacteria is ongoing. Soil gas measurements were attempted for the July sample but a complete set could not be obtained because compaction and dryness of the soil prevented accurate measurements. Another sample is scheduled to be taken this fall, in coordination with the rest of the research team.
Initial analysis of dialysates from SPMDs deployed in the north lobe of the spill site accumulated aromatic hydrocarbons (Fig. 1). Analysis by GC-FID showed the presence of hydrocarbons in the C18-24 range. Further analysis by HPLC showed the presence of a number of PAHs. Levels of a number of PAHs present in the SPMDs are currently being quantified by comparison to known standards.
As seen in previous studies of crude-oil contaminated sites in the Tallgrass Prairie (Duncan et al., 1999), the numbers of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (here represented by those aerobic heterotrophs capable of growth on naphthalene) were elevated in comparison to samples taken from the tilled, uncontaminated prairie and a nearby aged spill site (SO, Figure 2).
In general, TPH levels decreased over the course of the season, as expected (Figure 3), with the exception of the Oct. 9 PetroflagTM samples. Soil samples collected shortly before tilling and fertilizer application took place confirm that there was no contamination with brine (Table 1).
SPMDs deployed in the north lobe of the spill site accumulated PAHs from the soil. These results are significant in demonstrating that PSDs, such as SPMDs, can accumulate lipophilic contaminants from soil under field conditions. Further chemical analysis is necessary to determine if other hydrocarbons (e.g. aliphatic) were also absorbed by the SPMDs. Under laboratory conditions, SPMDs have been observed to take up greater levels of hydrocarbons, so the conditions that are required for enhanced uptake of hydrophobic contaminants for soil (e.g., moisture content) need to be determined. Work in progress also involves the determination of bioavailable hydrocarbons from contaminated soils using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques and also the tests examining the bioaccumulation and toxicity of hydrocarbons from these soils by earthworms.
The microbial data confirm the SPMD results that hydrocarbons are bioavailable at this time. Interestingly, a sample taken in October suggests that the number of naphthalene-degraders in the tilled site and the aged spill site may be elevated in comparison to the number in undisturbed prairie. Work to be completed includes evaluating differences in bacterial species composition at the various sites, using traditional methods of characterization as well as molecular genetic techniques, in order to assess with greater sensitivity and precision the microbial response to hydrocarbons, and to distinguish such a response from that resulting from disturbance (e.g., tilling).
Heterogeneity of the distribution of oil prevents strict comparisons between soils sampled at different times using alternative methods of measuring TPH levels, nevertheless, the discrepancy between the Oct. 9 levels measured by PetroflagTM, and those expected from continuing the downward trend seen with GC and IR, make us hesitant to recommend the exclusive use of Petroflag_ for TPH measurements at this time in spite of its low cost and rapidity.
Plans for the current quarter include:
- Continue earthworm bioassays with soil samples
- GC-FID, GC-MS, and HPLC analysis of SPMD dialysates
- Solid-phase microextraction analysis (SPME) of hydrocarbons in soils
- Complete evaluation of bacterial species composition at the various sites, using traditional methods of characterization and molecular genetic techniques
Table 1: Soil chemistry
Site | Cl- | SO4= | NO3- | PO4- | Ca2+ | Mg2+ | Na+ |
N-t | 19.5* | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 9.8 | 0.5 | 6.1 |
N-t, f | 29.3 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 9.0 | 0.7 | 9.4 |
S-t | 17.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 8.5 | 0.5 | 8.1 |
S-t, f | 15.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 8.7 | 0.5 | 20.6 |
Prairie 1 | 12.7 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 9.1 | 0.6 | 29.6 |
Prairie 2 | 24.2 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 7.2 | 0.6 | 5.6 |
* values in ppm
Note: samples were collected before the area was tilled and fertilizer applied. The site designations refer to manipulations that were performed after the soil samples were collected for chemical analysis.
N-t: North Lobe, tilled
N-t, f: North Lobe, tilled and fertilized
S-t: South Lobe, tilled
S-t, f: South Lobe, tilled and fertilized
Prairie 1, Prairie 2: adjacent, uncontaminated control areas
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 5 publications for this subprojectSupplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Geographic Area, Waste, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Sustainable Industry/Business, Midwest, Bioavailability, Contaminated Sediments, Remediation, Sustainable Environment, State, Chemistry, Chemicals, Analytical Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Hazardous Waste, Bioremediation, Biology, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hazardous, petroleum, degradation, petroleum contaminants, Tallgrass Prairie Perserve, Pawhuska, OK, oil biodegradation, petrochemicals, microbes, chemical contaminants, soils, petrochemical waste, soil, toxicity, oil spills, bioremediation of soils, passive sampling devices, hydrocarbons, measurement, microorganism, sampling, oil removal, passive sampling devicea (PSDs), Oklahoma (OK), hazardous waste characterization, hazardous waste identificationProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R827015 Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827015C001 Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges
R827015C002 Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of Soils Containing Petrochemicals
R827015C003 Demonstration of a Subsurface Drainage System for the Remediation of Brine-Impacted Soil
R827015C004 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C005 Microflora Involved in Phytoremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R827015C006 Microbial Treatment of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
R827015C007 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C008 The Use of Nitrate for the Control of Sulfide Formation in Oklahoma Oil Fields
R827015C009 Surfactant-Enhanced Treatment of Oil-Contaminated Soils and Oil-Based Drill Cuttings
R827015C010 Novel Materials for Facile Separation of Petroleum Products from Aqueous Mixtures Via Magnetic Filtration
R827015C011 Development of Relevant Ecological Screening Criteria (RESC) for Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Exploration and Production Sites
R827015C012 Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C013 New Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C014 Enhancement of Microbial Sulfate Reduction for the Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers - A Laboratory and Field Scale Demonstration
R827015C015 Locating Oil-Water Interfaces in Process Vessels
R827015C016 Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C017 Continuation of an Investigation into the Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C018 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C019 Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Salt-Impacted Soil by Native Halophiles or Halotolerants and Strategies for Enhanced Degradation
R827015C020 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of MTBE
R827015C021 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R827015C022 A Continuation: Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C023 Data for Design of Vapor Recovery Units for Crude Oil Stock Tank Emissions
R827015C024 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C025 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C026 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation of MTBE in Goundwater Using Molecular Methods and "Bug Traps"
R827015C027 Identifying the Signature of Natural Attenuation in the Microbial
Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and
"Bug Traps"
R827015C028 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R827015C030 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R827015C031 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R827015C032 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633 Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC)
R830633C001 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells (Phase II)
R830633C002 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R830633C003 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R830633C004 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R830633C005 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633C006 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R830633C007 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation in the Microbial Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and “Bug Traps”
R830633C008 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R830633C009 Use of Earthworms to Accelerate the Restoration of Oil and Brine Impacted Sites
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
1 journal articles for this subproject
Main Center: R827015
120 publications for this center
16 journal articles for this center