Laboratory batch studies assessing the potential for in situ bioremediation of fuel contaminated soil and groundwater in weathered glacial till
Date
1993
Authors
Buelow, Timothy Carl
Major Professor
Advisor
Jones, LaDon
Committee Member
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Abstract
The remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater from leaking underground storage tanks is a significant problem throughout Iowa and the rest of the nation. Biological systems offer the advantage of partial or complete destruction of the contaminants. In situ bioremediation is a new and potentially promising technology which does not require the physical removal of the contaminants from the ground and uses microorganisms to naturally degrade the contaminants to harmless end products of carbon dioxide and water. These advantages could significantly reduce both costs and cleanup time for contaminated sites.
The cumulative results of these laboratory batch studies have demonstrated the ability of the indigenous microbial population to degrade BTEX compounds.The research indicates that the gasoline contanimation could be bioremediated provided that oxygen and nutrients can be adequately supplied to the microorganisms. The addition of significant concentrations of nitrate would enhance the rate of biodegradation by allowing toluene to be degraded under denitrifying conditions, thus making more oxygen available for the degradation of benzene, ethyl-benzene, and the xylenes.
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thesis