Respirometry Studies In An Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sandy Soil

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2003

Authors

Maria Cristina Vila (Author) FEUP; António Fiúza (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments

Pages: C-01-C-4

Second International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments

Venice, Italy, 30 Sep–3 Oct 2003

Other information

Abstract (EN): Since the last five years our research team has been studying several approaches to the bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum compounds. In a preliminary stage we studied the evidence of biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and its kinetics, as well as the kinetics of the abiotic degradable component of TPH. It was also possible to quantify a refractory component of the contaminant for the time scale of the experiments. A mathematical model describing the degradation of crude oil, both by abiotic and biologic processes, was developed. Searching the relationships between the crude consumption and the biologic activity a different approach was tried: the respirometry. Such respirometry studies were performed using a SableSystems TR8 respirometer, which is basically composed by an air dryer, a pump, a reactor (the soil container) and analysers for oxygen and carbon dioxide. The apparatus was connected to a computer that acquires and records the data. The results were statistically treated by different mathematical tools. The evolution of the oxygen concentration in time clearly shows a trend and a seasonality (daily cycles) that permits forecasting based on time series analysis. The mathematical and phenomenological linkage between the two approaches is currently under development.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4