Effect of Concentration on the Biological Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Associated with In Situ Soil-Water Treatment

by Richard J. Watts, Univ of Nevada, United States,
Patrick N. McGuire, Univ of Nevada, United States,
Hsaiowan Lee, Univ of Nevada, United States,
Ronald E. Hoeppel, Univ of Nevada, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Environmental Engineering

Abstract:

Sandy soil samples contaminated with weathered JP-5 jet fuel were mixed with uncontaminated sand to provide a concentration gradient from 187 to 1565 mg total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH)/Kg dry soil. In biological treatment studies using closed-system shake flasks, petroleum hydrocarbons were degraded to below detectable levels within 61 days when the initial TPH concentration was less than 500 mg/Kg. Biological treatment of samples with initial TPH concentrations greater than 500 mg/Kg resulted in minimal degradation over 120 days. Specific growth rates and specific substrate utilization rates did not decrease with high TPH concentrations indicating that inhibition of microbial growth or enzymatic processes was not a factor.

Subject Headings: Non-renewable energy | Soil treatment | Biological processes | Soil pollution | Hydrocarbons | Petroleum | Soil mixing

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