[Modeling research about bioremediation of organic pollutants in soil-water-microbes system]

A new Theory, organic pollutant sequestration inside soil particles, was applied in the research in order to explain the persistence of residual chemicals in remediation sites. Based on this theory, a mathematical model which simulates organic pollutant bioremediation process in soil-water-microbes system was developed. In the model, diffusion is represented by Fick's second law, reversible sorption-desorption by a linear isotherm, irreversible sequestration by a pseudo-first order kinetics, and biodegradation by Monod kinetics. Model results match successfully with experimental data. Model simulations are performed in the study. It is noteworthy that the mathematical model will be useful in quantitatively predicting the time and degradation extend of organic pollutant in remediation sites.