Bioremediation Technologies

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Bioremediation Technologies

• ENVM 644 New Technologies in Environmental
  Management
• Dr. Robert Beauchamp

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BIOLOGIC PROCESSES

• AEROBIC AND ANEROBIC
• AEROBIC
• MICROORGANISMS NEED A CARBON ENERGY SOURCE.
• TEMPERATURE Ph MUST BE CONTROLLED.
• NUTRIENTS - NITROGEN PHOSPHOROUS.
• pH 6 - 8 IS BEST.
• NEED O2 AERATION.
• TEMPERATURE gt 150 IS BEST.

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BIOLOGIC PROCESSES (cont)

• ANEROBIC DIGESTION
• ABSENCE OF FREE O2.
• CONVERTS HYDROCARBONS FROM COMPLEX TO SIMPLER
  MOLECULES TO CO2 METHANE.
• REQUIRES NO POWER.
• VERY HIGH ORGANIC DESTRUCTION RATES
• METHANE CAN BE OF COMMERCIAL VALUE.
• LESS LAND REQUIRED.
• DISADVANTAGES
• MAY TAKE A LONG TIME.
• EXPERIENCE LACKING.
• DESIGN CAN BE DIFFICULT (pH 6 - 8 IS BEST)

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BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES

• LANDFARMING
• EXCAVATE OR TREAT SOILS IN-SITU.
• LINE TREATMENT AREA
• PLACE SOILS ON LINED AREA
• APPLY NUTRIENTS TILL SOIL
• NEED 0.5 ACRES/1000 CUBIC YARDS OF SOIL

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BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES (cont)

• FACTORS FOR LANDFARMING
• CONSIDERABLE AREA REQUIRED.
• MINIMAL CONSTRUCTION.
• MODEST OPERATION ACTIVITY
• FAIRLY RAPID DEGRADATION
• GOOD CONTROL
• DEPENDENT ON SOIL TYPE
• VOC's RELEASED INTO ATMOSPHERE

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BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES

• SOIL CELL METHOD
• TREAT EXCAVATED AREA
• LINED AND COVERED CELL
• PRE-MIX SOIL WITH NUTRIENTS
• INSTALL VACUUM SYSTEM TO ADD O2
• NEED 0.1 ACRES/1000 CUBIC YARDS OF SOIL

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BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES (cont)

• SOIL CELL FACTORS
• MODEST AREA REQUIRED
• MODEST CONSTRUCTION EFFORT
• MINIMUM OPERATION ACTIVITY
• MODEST DEGRADATION RATE
• VOC's MAY NEED TREATMENT

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BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES

• IN-SITU METHOD
• NO EXCAVATION
• NUTRIENTS INFILTRATE DOWN
• AIR MOVED THROUGH SOIL BY A PUMP VACUUM SYSTEM

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BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES (cont)

• IN-SITU FACTORS
• LEAST DISTURBS THE SITE
• NUTRIENT ADDITION EASY OR DIFFICULT
• IN-SITU VAPOR SYSTEM REQUIRED
• GROUNDWATER MAY BE IMPACTED
• SOILS MAY BE A PROBLEM
• OPERATIONAL EFFORTS MINIMAL
• OFF-GAS TREATMENT ADDS COST
• LEAST FLEXIBLE CONTROL
• SLOWEST METHOD
• NOTE REMEDIATION TIME LANDFARMINGlt SOIL CELLlt
  IN-SITU