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Landfarming in a PAH-contaminated soil
A Picado1, A Nogueira, L Baeta-Hall
1Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial, Lisboa, Portugal.
Summary
Land farming effectively remediated coke oven soil contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study shows significant PAH reduction and improved microbial activity, making the soil safer.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Remediation
- Environmental Microbiology
Background:
- Coke oven sites are often contaminated with high levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- Land farming is a potential in-situ remediation technique for PAH-contaminated soils.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the treatability of coke oven soil using land farming.
- To assess the chemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological changes during remediation.
Main Methods:
- A field-scale land farming study was conducted on 100 m² of contaminated soil.
- Soil samples were analyzed for total PAHs, microbial populations (PAH degraders, total heterotrophs), ecotoxicity, and genotoxicity.
Main Results:
- A 63% reduction in total PAHs was observed after 3 months, with a 79% reduction in 2- to 4-ring PAHs.
- Significant increases in PAH-degrading and total heterotrophic bacterial colonies were detected.
- Ecotoxicity and genotoxicity tests on treated soil eluates showed no adverse effects.
Conclusions:
- Land farming is an effective method for remediating coke oven soil contaminated with PAHs.
- The treatment stimulated microbial activity, leading to significant PAH degradation.
- Remediated soil demonstrated no ecotoxicological or genotoxic risks.