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VertaseFLI - Ex-Situ Bioremediation for Biological Process
Ex-situ bioremediation is a biological process in which excavated soil is placed in a lined above-ground treatment area and aerated following processing to enhance the degradation of organic contaminants by the indigenous microbial population. Under aerobic conditions, specific micro-organisms can utilise organic contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), phenols, cresols and some pesticides as a source of carbon and energy and degrade them ultimately to carbon dioxide and water. It is unusual to require the addition of microbial populations but usual to assess the nutrient requirement and amend the basic nutrients and organic substrate of the soil if any of these elements are deficient or absent. Oxygen (via the introduction of air) is essential to allow the microbial population to develop cultures capable of sustaining degradation.
As a general rule all but the most homogenious of excavated soils require processing before bioremediation techniques can be successfully applied. There are a number of different techniques and formats to biological treatment however the basic principal of introducing the correct soil oxygen, moisture and nutrient conditions prevails.
Ex-situ bioremediation can remediate a wide range of hydrocarbon contaminants including but not limited to:
- General hydrocarbons
- Kerosene
- Phenols
- Cresols
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Semi-volatile organic compounds
- Diesel range hydrocarbons lubricating oils
- Straight chain aliphatics
Non-chlorinated hydrocarbons within the carbon chain lengths C6 to C14 are readily treatable, non-chlorinated hydrocarbons with carbon chain lengths C15-C32 are treatable but require longer time periods to degrade. Chlorinated hydrocarbons and other more complex chains can be degraded but require detailed assessment and analysis to determine suitability.
The excavated soil is placed into a shaped pile up to between 1.5 and 2m height and up to 6m wide in a lined area, the pile is aerated by periodical turning of the windrows by specialised machinery which can be excavator mounted or self propelled. Soil organic amendments and nutrients can be easily added to the windrows during turning to improve aeration and soil characteristics as required. This is often the most cost effective method of ex-situ biological treatment.
As a general rule all but the most homogenious of excavated soils require processing before bioremediation techniques can be successfully applied. There are a number of different techniques and formats to biological treatment however the basic principal of introducing the correct soil oxygen, moisture and nutrient conditions prevails.
The excavated soil is placed into a shaped pile up to 3m in height and 6m wide in a lined area. The pile is aerated either via a vacuum pump or air injection blower system. Vapours from the biopile can be collected and treated onsite by granular activated carbon (GAC) or air bio-filter to reduce emissions to the atmosphere. Biopiles can be constructed taller than windrows and so require less space on site, additionally the injection of air can be used to control the bed temperature during winter periods if overwintering is required. It is also the preferred choice if particularly odourous or volatile contaminants are the issue.
For all bioremediation techniques, an Environmental Permit is required from the Environment Agency and any run off or ‘leachate’ from the soil needs be collected and treated.
Treatment times range dependent on the contamination and target concentrations from 6 to 16 weeks dependent on contaminant type, concentration and soil properties, and time of year. Ambient temperature has a significant effect on bioremediation with best degradation rates occurring during the warmer summer months; cold winter weather can significantly slow and even halt biodegradation.
- Proven track record on UK contaminated sites
- Suitable for a wide range of contaminants
- Suitability relatively simple to assess from site investigation data
- Flexible with respect to volumes (treated in excess of 250,000 tonnes in one season on some sites)
- Not applicable to heavy metal contamination or chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Non-permeable soils require additional processing (clays and silts, etc)
- Can require large areas for treatment beds and thus site size is an important consideration
- Contaminants must be aerobically biodegradable
- Temperature, weather and material dependent