Bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soils: Evaluation of potential in situ techniques by study of bacterial degradation

The development of a simple laboratory methodology allows the implementation of in situ bioremediation of polluted soils with diesel fuel. In this investigation microbiological and chemical analyses and a suitable bioreactor design, were very useful for suggesting the best ways to improve biodegrada...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biodegradation (Dordrecht) 2001-01, Vol.12 (5), p.325-335
Main Authors: GALLEGO, José L. R, LOREDO, Jorge, LLAMAS, Juan F, VAZQUEZ, Fernando, SANCHEZ, Jesus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acinetobacter
Activated sludge
Bacteria
Biodegradation
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biological and medical sciences
Bioreactors
Bioreactors - microbiology
Bioremediation
Biotechnology
Culture Media
Diesel fuels
Domestic wastewater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gasoline - analysis
Microbiological studies
Microbiology
River banks
Sewage - microbiology
Soil contamination
Soil Microbiology
Soil Pollutants - analysis
Soil pollution
Water pollution
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Summary:The development of a simple laboratory methodology allows the implementation of in situ bioremediation of polluted soils with diesel fuel. In this investigation microbiological and chemical analyses and a suitable bioreactor design, were very useful for suggesting the best ways to improve biodegradation extents in a diesel-enriched soil. Biostimulation with inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus produced the best results in a simple bioreactor, with biodegradation extents higher than 90% after 45 days. Also, the addition of activated sludge from a domestic wastewater plant increased the degradation rate to a great extent. In both cases, microbiological studies showed the presence of Acinetobacter sp. degrading most of the hydrocarbons. Simultaneously, a diesel fuel release (approximately 400,000 l) was studied. Samples taken in polluted soil and water revealed that bacteria from the genus Acinetobacter were predominant. In plate studies, Acinetobacter colonies produced a whitish substance with the characteristics of a biosurfactant. Remarkably, the presence of this product was evident at the field site, both in the riverbanks and in the physical recovery plant. The study of the similarities between laboratory results and the diesel spill site strongly suggested that natural conditions at the field site allowed the implementation of in situ bioremediation after physical removal of LNAPL (light nonaqueous-phase liquids).
ISSN:0923-9820
1572-9729
DOI:10.1023/a:1014397732435