Extended bioremediation of PAH/PCP contaminated soils from the POPILE wood treatment facility

A study was conducted using two pilot-scale land-treatment units (LTUs) to evaluate the efficacy of different cultivation and maintenance schedules during bioremediation of contaminated soil from a wood treatment facility using landfarming technology. The soil contained high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, approximately 13000 ppm) as well as of pentachlorophenol (PCP, approximately 1500 ppm). An initial 6-month intensive-treatment phase was followed by 24 months of less-intensive treatment. During the first phase, traditional landfarming practice of regular cultivation was compared with a gas-phase composition based cultivation strategy, and both the landfarming units were intensively monitored and maintained with respect to moisture control and delivery of nutrients. The two strategies resulted in similar contaminant concentration profiles with time during this phase, although different microbial populations developed in the two-landfarming units. The second (less-intensive) treatment phase involved no moisture control and nutrient delivery beyond the initial adjustments, and compared natural attenuation (no cultivation) with quarterly cultivation of soil. Both the strategies showed similar behavior again. GC/MS analysis of the soil samples showed PAH removal including four-ring homologues. Leachability tests at zero time and after 6 and 22 months of operation showed significant reductions in leaching of PCP and low molecular weight PAHs. Extended treatment resulted in some leaching of high molecular weight PAHs. Significant biological activity was demonstrated, even at the high contaminant concentrations. Phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) analysis showed an increase in biomass and a divergence in community composition in soils depending on the treatment conducted.