Enhancement of BTEX biodegradation in subsurface environments.

Massive consumption of petroleum and petroleum products in the world frequently leads to soil contamination by fuel components. The compounds of main concern are: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are highly toxic. The bioremediation technology depends on the alteration of physical and chemical conditions in the subsurface environment to optimize microbial activity. In this study, several techniques of soil remediation enhancement were investigated. BTEX-degraders were selected from the wastewater treatment sludge biota and used as inoculum later. The acclimation was performed on the granular activated carbon (GAC) columns supplied with aromatic hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon and energy. Enhancement of BTEX biodegradation in soil by addition of inoculum, nutrients, and oxygen was investigated in the batch experiments. Controls were run in parallel to account for abiotic losses. The BTEX utilization rates were calculated and compared for different conditions. Continuous soil reactor was used to compare the biodegradation abilities of soil indigenous microorganisms and preselected inoculum. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .K67. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0331. Adviser: N. Biswas. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997