Bioremediation Technologies ENVM 644: New Technologies in Environmental Management Dr. Robert Beauchamp

BIOLOGIC PROCESSES n AEROBIC AND ANEROBIC –AEROBIC: MICROORGANISMS NEED A CARBON & ENERGY SOURCE. TEMPERATURE & Ph MUST BE CONTROLLED. NUTRIENTS - NITROGEN & PHOSPHOROUS. pH IS BEST. NEED O 2 AERATION. TEMPERATURE > 15 0 IS BEST.

BIOLOGIC PROCESSES (cont) –ANEROBIC DIGESTION ABSENCE OF FREE O 2. CONVERTS HYDROCARBONS FROM COMPLEX TO SIMPLER MOLECULES & TO CO 2 & METHANE. REQUIRES NO POWER. VERY HIGH ORGANIC DESTRUCTION RATES METHANE CAN BE OF COMMERCIAL VALUE. LESS LAND REQUIRED. DISADVANTAGES: –MAY TAKE A LONG TIME. –EXPERIENCE LACKING. –DESIGN CAN BE DIFFICULT (pH = IS BEST)

BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES n LANDFARMING –EXCAVATE OR TREAT SOILS IN-SITU. –LINE TREATMENT AREA –PLACE SOILS ON LINED AREA –APPLY NUTRIENTS & TILL SOIL –NEED 0.5 ACRES/1000 CUBIC YARDS OF SOIL

BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES (cont) n FACTORS FOR LANDFARMING –CONSIDERABLE AREA REQUIRED. –MINIMAL CONSTRUCTION. –MODEST OPERATION ACTIVITY –FAIRLY RAPID DEGRADATION –GOOD CONTROL –DEPENDENT ON SOIL TYPE –VOC's RELEASED INTO ATMOSPHERE

BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES n SOIL CELL METHOD –TREAT EXCAVATED AREA –LINED AND COVERED CELL –PRE-MIX SOIL WITH NUTRIENTS –INSTALL VACUUM SYSTEM TO ADD O 2 –NEED 0.1 ACRES/1000 CUBIC YARDS OF SOIL

BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES (cont) n SOIL CELL FACTORS –MODEST AREA REQUIRED –MODEST CONSTRUCTION EFFORT –MINIMUM OPERATION ACTIVITY –MODEST DEGRADATION RATE –VOC's MAY NEED TREATMENT

BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES n IN-SITU METHOD –NO EXCAVATION –NUTRIENTS INFILTRATE DOWN –AIR MOVED THROUGH SOIL BY A PUMP & VACUUM SYSTEM

BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES (cont) n IN-SITU FACTORS –LEAST DISTURBS THE SITE –NUTRIENT ADDITION EASY OR DIFFICULT –IN-SITU VAPOR SYSTEM REQUIRED –GROUNDWATER MAY BE IMPACTED –SOILS MAY BE A PROBLEM –OPERATIONAL EFFORTS MINIMAL –OFF-GAS TREATMENT ADDS COST –LEAST FLEXIBLE & CONTROL –SLOWEST METHOD n NOTE: REMEDIATION TIME LANDFARMING< SOIL CELL< IN-SITU