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Importance of organic amendment characteristics on bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil

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Abstract

This study investigates the importance of the organic matter characteristics of several organic amendments (i.e., buffalo manure, food and kitchen waste, fruit and vegetables waste, and activated sewage sludge) and their influence in the bioremediation of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-contaminated soil. The removal of low molecular weights (LMW) and high molecular weights (HMW) PAHs was monitored in four bioremediation reactors and used as an indicator of the role of organic amendments in contaminant removal. The total initial concentration of LMW PAHs was 234 mg kg−1 soil (dry weight), while the amount for HMW PAHs was 422 mg kg−1 soil (dry weight). Monitoring of operational parameters and chemical analysis was performed during 20 weeks. The concentrations of LMW PAH residues in soil were significantly lower in reactors that displayed a mesophilic phase, i.e., 11 and 15 %, compared to reactors that displayed a thermophilic phase, i.e., 29 and 31 %. Residual HMW PAHs were up to five times higher compared to residual LMW PAHs, depending on the reactor. This demonstrated that the amount of added organic matter and macronutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, the biochemical organic compound classes (mostly soluble fraction and proteins), and the operational temperature are important factors affecting the overall efficiency of bioremediation. On that basis, this study shows that characterization of biochemical families could contribute to a better understanding of the effects of organic amendments and clarify their different efficiency during a bioremediation process of PAH-contaminated soil.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the European Commission (Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme ETeCoS3: Environmental Technologies for Contaminated Solids, Soils and Sediments, under the grant agreement FPA no. 2010–0009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125, Naples, Italy

    B. Lukić & M. Fabbricino

  2. Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Via di Biasio, 43, 03043, Cassino, FR, Italy

    B. Lukić & G. Esposito

  3. Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Géomatériaux et Environnement (EA 4508), UPEM, 77454, Marne-la-Vallée, France

    D. Huguenot

  4. Telematic University Pegaso, Piazza Trieste e Trento 48, 80132, Naples, Italy

    A. Panico & E. D. van Hullebusch

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  1. B. Lukić
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  2. D. Huguenot
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  3. A. Panico
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  4. M. Fabbricino
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  5. E. D. van Hullebusch
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  6. G. Esposito
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Correspondence to D. Huguenot.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Lukić, B., Huguenot, D., Panico, A. et al. Importance of organic amendment characteristics on bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 15041–15052 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6635-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6635-z

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