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CE 521 Environmental Biotechnology

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Term Paper Abstracts (Fall 2001):

BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES FOR REMEDIATION OF SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH PETROLEUM PRODUCT HYDROCARBONS

by Karen K. Lodden

 ABSTRACT

             Soil contamination by petroleum product hydrocarbons is an environmental problem that has occurred mainly due to leaking underground storage tanks (USTs).  It is a world-wide problem and the majority of the contamination has occurred in the highly industrialized countries.  Remediation of the petroleum contaminated soil is necessary due to the health hazards to humans that result if the soil is left untreated.

            In this paper, the concerns of the contamination and the biological processes currently used to treat them are reported.  The existing microbial population, extent of migration of the contaminants into the soil, the soil characteristics, and petroleum hydrocarbon properties are all factors that play a part in the selection of the remediation technology used.  By making the contaminants more available for degradation by controlling the moisture and oxygen content, the nutrient level, and in some cases the temperature and pH, the microbial activity can be increased and biodegradation can occur more efficiently at an accelerated rate.

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