Abstract
The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) conducted a pilot-scale study at a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in New Jersey. The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of an innovative chemical/biological treatment process (MGP-REM process) to remediate soils contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In order to identify the benefits of the MGP-REM process, the system was also operated in the conventional bioremediation mode.
Results showed that the MGP-REM process can effectively treat PAH-contaminated MGP site soils, and it reduced the toxicity of the soil by a factor of 50, as indicated by the Microtox Toxicity Test. The MGP-REM process was 70% more efficient than conventional bioremediation in the removal of the PAHs from the soils. Air emissions data suggest that minimal air pollution control and monitoring are required for the slurry-phase application of both the MGP-REM process and the conventional biological treatment. Process economics indicate that the MGP-REM process in a slurry-phase mode has an estimated treatment cost of $100/cubic yard for remediation of PAH-contaminated soils.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Kelley, R. L., Gauger, W. K., and Srivastava, V. J. (1990), Application of Fenton’s reagent as a pretreatment step in biological degradation of aromatic compounds. Presented at IGT’s Third International Symposium on Gas, Oil, Coal, and Environmental Biotechnology, New Orleans, LA.
Liu, B. Y., Pradhan, S. P., Srivastava, V. J., Pope, R., Hayes, T., Linz, D., Proulx, C., Jerger, D., and Woodhull, P. (1994), An evaluation of slurry-phase bioremediation of MGP soils. Proceedings of Gas, Oil, and Environmental Biotechnology VII, Des Plaines, Illinois: Institute of Gas Technology, Des Plaines, IL.
Liu, B. Y., Srivastava, V. J., Paterek, J. R., Pradhan, S. P., Pope, J. R., Hayes, T. D., Linz, D. G., and Jerger, D. E. (1993), MGP soil remediation in a slurry-phase system: a pilot- scale test. Presented at Sixth International IGT Symposium on Gas, Oil, and Environmental Biotechnology, Colorado Spring, CO.
Park, K. S., Sims, R. C., DuPont, R. R., Doucette, W. J., and Matthews, J. E. (1990),Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 9, 187–195.
Lauch, R. P., Herrmann, J. G., Mahaffey, W. R., Jones, A. B., Dosani, M., and Hessling, J. (1992),Environ. Prog. 11, no. 4, 265–271.
Ravikumar, J. X. and Gurol, M. D. (1992), Fenton’s reagent as a chemical oxidant for soil contaminants. Paper presented at the Chemical Oxidation Technology for the Nineties, Second International Symposium, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Remediations Technologies Inc. (1995), Bioslurry treatment of MGP impacted soils site specific economic evaluation Elizabethtown Gas Company. Prepared for Gas Research Institute, Chicago, IL.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pradhan, S.P., Paterek, J.R., Liu, B.Y. et al. Pilot-scale bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 63, 759–773 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920473
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920473