Sequential application of soil vapor extraction and bioremediation processes for the remediation of ethylbenzene-contaminated soils

Soares, António Alves; Pinho, Maria Teresa; Albergaria, José Tomás; Domingues, Valentina F.; Alvim-Ferraz, Maria da Conceição M.; De Marco, Paolo; Delerue-Matos, Cristina

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/2032

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Authors

Soares, António Alves

Pinho, Maria Teresa

Albergaria, José Tomás

Domingues, Valentina F.

Alvim-Ferraz, Maria da Conceição M.

De Marco, Paolo

Delerue-Matos, Cristina

Abstract(s)

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is an efficient, well-known and widely applied soil remediation technology. However, under certain conditions it cannot achieve the defined cleanup goals, requiring further treatment, for example, through bioremediation (BR). The sequential application of these technologies is presented as a valid option but is not yet entirely studied. This work presents the study of the remediation of ethylbenzene (EB)-contaminated soils, with different soil water and natural organic matter (NOMC) contents, using sequential SVE and BR. The obtained results allow the conclusion that: (1) SVE was sufficient to reach the cleanup goals in 63% of the experiments (all the soils with NOMC below 4%), (2) higher NOMCs led to longer SVE remediation times, (3) BR showed to be a possible and cost-effective option when EB concentrations were lower than 335 mg kgsoil −1, and (4) concentrations of EB above 438 mg kgsoil −1 showed to be inhibitory for microbial activity.