Crude Oil Degradation in Contaminated Soil

Crude Oil Degradation in Contaminated Soil

Comparing Land-Farming, Surface Heating and Enhanced Biodegradation

Ahmed Mahdia, Dar EI Tarbia American School, Cairo, Egypt




Table of Contents





Crude Oil Degradation in Contaminated Soil, Comparing Land-Farming, Surface Heating and Enhanced Biodegradation 1

  Table of Contents 1


  Abstract 2


  Introduction 2


    Land-Farming: 3


    Surface Heating 3


    Enhanced Biodegradation 4


  Materials and Methods 4


    Land-Farming Experimental Methods: 4


    Surface Heating Experimental Methods: 4


    Enhanced Biodegradation Experimental Methods: 5


  Results and Discussion 5


    Effect of Land-Farming Method on Crude Oil 5


    Effect of Surface Heating Method on Crude Oil 5


    Effect of Enhanced Biodegradation Method on Crude Oil 5


  Conclusions 6


  References 6

Abstract


One of the most destructive pollutants known today is oil contamination.   For decades people have been trying to find the cheapest and most efficient cleanup ways of oil contaminated soil.   Many solutions were found and put to use.   The purpose of this research is to compare Land-Farming, Surface Heating, and Enhanced Biodegradation of oil contaminated soil to find out which of these methods is the cheapest and most efficient.

The experiments were designed by forming models of the three processes.   Fifty gram soil samples each contaminated with 10ml of crude oil passed through each process.   In Land-Farming and Enhanced Biodegradation, the samples were left in a 30oC incubator for five days.   Then the oil was extracted.   As for Surface Heating, the remaining oil was extracted from the soil after passing hot vapor and filtration of the vapor.   The extracted oil was passed through an HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatograph) and the amount of contaminants left was measured.

The Land-Farming model was only able to degrade less than 1% of the oil...