PAH Bioremediation

The results of a recent bench-scale test confirmed the effectiveness of a special blend of CL Solutions’ microbes formulated for PAH bioremediation.  The test results showed that after two weeks, the total concentration of 15 PAH compounds decreased by 85% from a total of 358 mg/kg to 50.9 mg/kg.  Benzo(A)pyrene is often a most difficult PAH to remove. The test showed that the custom blend reduced the benzo(A)pyrene concentration from 24.5 mg/kg to 3.68 mg/kg.  Tests will continue to determine whether even greater effectiveness can be achieved over 30 days.

Bioremediation of Naphthalene and Methylnaphthalene Isomers

Petrox bioremediation accelerates the removal of naphthalene and isomers of methylnaphthalene.  These petroleum compounds are often slow to remediate due to their low volatility and strong affinity for absorption onto soil particles.  The remediation rate of these compounds is slower than BTEX compounds.  They often also rebound as the absorbed phase solubilizes following removal of the compound from ground water to reestablish phase equilibrium.  Petrox bioremediation accelerates the remediation of these compounds by a combination of metabolizing the dissolved phase and a biosurfactant effect that strips the compound from soil to make it available for metabolism. Read more…

For example, Petrox achieved more than 90% removal of these compound in less than 9 months at a site of a former underground storage tank (UST) in Florida.  After the UST and surrounding contaminated soil were removed, the residual BTEX compounds were treated by chemical oxidation.  The chemical oxidation, however, did not remove the naphthalene and methylnaphthalene isomers. Petrox was applied to the ground water in and around the former UST cavity.

Nine months after the Petrox application the following reductions in concentrations were achieved.  The concentrations are the average of four ground water sampling locations.

Naphthalene –  367 ug/L reduced to 18 ug/L,  95% removal.

1 Methylnaphthalene – 255 ug/L reduced to 33 ug/L, 87% removal.

2 Methylnaphthalene – 400 ug/L reduced to 30 ug/L, 93% removal.

The Petrox was injected into the ground through a continuous low-volume injection system.  This application method did not impact the use of the property or require major construction. The application was also far less costly than alternatives.

The greatest benefit was the relatively rapid removal of difficult contaminants.  Click here and here to view cases studies of naphthalene bioremediation case studies. Use the search bar to find even more case studies of naphthalene bioremediation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surface Oil Spill Bioremediation

Petrox microbes provide quick response surface oil spill bioremediation.  Petrox can be applied to the oil surface with a backpack sprayer to initiate rapid bioremediation.  This approach protects surface water and vegetation with minimal surface traffic.

In the following example, an oil spill affected the vegetation and surface water at the edge of a lake. Contractors applied Petrox to the oil surface on vegetation and soil.  Periodic soil samples tracked the results.  After 90 days, the maximum and average concentrations decreased by more than 95% at a very low cost.

Surface Spill Results

The Basics of Petroleum Bioremediation

For a brief summary of the basics of petroleum bioremediation follow this link Basics of Petroleum Bioremediation

Surface Spills to Deep Subsurface Success With Petrox Bioremediation

Petrox bioremediation is used to remove petroleum contamination from soil and water under many different conditions.  From surface spills to deep soil and ground water contamination, Petrox has successfully removed the contamination and environmental risk.  This summary of case studies demonstrates the applicability of Petrox bioremediation to the full range and life cycle of petroleum spills. Click here to view the document.