Petroleum bioventing is a new technique for the biological in situ removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from soil. This book investigates the composition and the behaviour of petroleum in soil, soil properties and soil processes, their interaction with bacterial processes, possibilities for optimizing the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from soil by bacteria and it explains the phenomenon of recalcitrance. This interdisciplinary approach forms the basis for both modelling and design principles of bioventing. Key features: Background knowledge on the physical/chemical/biogeochemical properties of soil and soil processes with respect to petroleum bioventing; Background knowledge on petroleum biodegradation and noval approaches to stimulate petroleum biodegradation to stimulate petroleum biodegradation in soil and biofilters; Modelling efforts showing the effect of diffusion and soil porosity on bioventing design and the effect of ventilation quotients on the aeration & biological clean up of soils, particularly heterogeneous soils; New insights into biological removal of priority pollutants from petroleum hydrocarbons, the problem of residual concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil & the requirements by the Law on Soil Protection.

Soil bioventing is one of the most popular modern techniques for removing contaminants from soil. It has recently emerged as one of the most cost-effective and efficient technologies available for vadose zone remediation of petroleum-contaminated sites. This book explains in practical terms how to carry out a bioventing program. It is an interdisciplinary treatment of the subject, covering everything from basic physical and chemical properties of soils to site evaluation, project design, and post-bioventing monitoring. The wide breadth of coverage makes Soil Bioventing useful to a large audience, including consulting firms, students, contractors, environmental managers, and anyone who is responsible for supervision of soil cleanup for regulatory reasons.

This synthesis will be of interest to state transportation personnel involved with project planning and location (administrative and regulatory personnel), design staff (general civil, geotechnical, and environmental engineers), and project managers (construction and maintenance engineers and staff). It will also be of interest to federal and state environmental agencies and to environmental consultants and contractors as well as to trainers in the field of petroleum-contaminated soil remediation. This synthesis describes the remedial technologies that may be available to transportation agencies faced with the regulatory responsibility to clean or remediate petroleum-contaminated soils in the vadose zone (unsaturated soils above the groundwater table) at a particular site as well as the state of the practice within the agencies. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes the applicability and cost-effectiveness of alternate technologies to remediate petroleum-contaminated soil. Practices currently being used by state transportation agencies to remediate petroleum-contaminated soils, both on site and off site are also described. This summary of transportation agency practice complements the limited telephone survey of soil remediation techniques that was performed in preparing NCHRP Report 351, Hazardous Wastes in Highway Rights-of-Way.

This book combines the results of current research with essential background material to provide complete, in-depth coverage of every aspect of in situ and ex situ bioremediation, as well as an extensive overview of the physical and chemical processes currently available for treating petroleum-contaminated soils. Critical information has been collected and assembled under one cover to provide a convenient reference for anyone who must contend with this worldwide problem. Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soils: Biological, Physical, and Chemical Processes describes how to optimize the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil-water systems. It reports on the susceptibility of various petroleum components to biodegradation by microorganisms, and considers all groups of microorganisms for their potential contributions. The book also deals with problem areas such as the transport of organisms, oxygen, or nutrients throughout the subsurface, as well as biodegradation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). In addition, the book presents a variety of methods for monitoring bioremediation. This reference discusses current soil remediation processes and includes many innovative approaches. It also investigates means of controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and leachate, and addresses methods for collecting and treating these secondary waste streams. The expansive coverage of this book will furnish readers with a wide range of options for developing treatment strategies and for customizing procedures for specific requirements.