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Full-Scale Remediation of a Jet Fuel-Contaminated Soil: Assessment of Biodegradation, Volatilization, and Bioavailability

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Abstract

Here, we addressed biodegradation vs. volatilization processes, and also bioavailability limitations during biopile remediation of soil initially contaminated by more than 5,000 mg/kg of hydrocarbons. In order to select bioremediation strategies, we first conducted a biotreatability study, which included geochemical, textural, and microbiological characterization of the soil matrix. Next, we implemented five bioremediation approaches onsite in real-scale biopiles. In order to monitor hydrocarbon depletion and to distinguish between biological and non-biological processes, we analyzed chemical biomarkers by means of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In addition, a comprehensive study of soil grain size and its implications on bioavailability were studied. Furthermore, the evolution of microbial populations was also examined. Two of the strategies implemented in the biopiles (the combination of a slow-release fertilizer and a surfactant, and the use of an oleophilic fertilizer respectively) reduced the soil hydrocarbon content to under 500 mg/kg in 5 months. Additional results from this study indicate that volatilization was the predominant degradation process for light hydrocarbons (below 12 carbon atoms), whereas heavier compounds were mainly biodegraded. However, even in the most favorable situation, a residual concentration of hydrocarbons linked to the finer fraction of the soil was found.

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Acknowledgment

We thank the company EMGRISA (Spain) for financial and technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biotechnology and Geochemistry Group, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias (IUBA), Universidad de Oviedo, C/Gonzalo Gut. Quirós s/n, 33600, Mieres, Asturias, Spain

    José Luis R. Gallego, Carlos Sierra, Ana I. Peláez, Demelza Menéndez-Vega & Jesús Sánchez

  2. Department de Geoquímica, Petrologia i Prospecció Geològica, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Albert Permanyer

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  1. José Luis R. Gallego
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  2. Carlos Sierra
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  3. Albert Permanyer
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  4. Ana I. Peláez
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  5. Demelza Menéndez-Vega
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  6. Jesús Sánchez
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Correspondence to José Luis R. Gallego.

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Gallego, J.L.R., Sierra, C., Permanyer, A. et al. Full-Scale Remediation of a Jet Fuel-Contaminated Soil: Assessment of Biodegradation, Volatilization, and Bioavailability. Water Air Soil Pollut 217, 197–211 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0579-6

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