An evaluation of bioremediation of oiled sediments buried within a mudflat environment

摘要

An investigation of the potential of bioremediation to treat oil-contaminated shoreline sediments was carried out in the SOuth West of England at Stert Flats, Bridgwater Bay, Somerset. Previous experimental studies had shown that fine surface sediments at this site were highly mobile due to tidal and wave action, thus supperficial contamination would be removed quickly, with only buried iol persisting. A field trial was thus designed to determine whether periodic additions of inorganic nitrate and phosphate could be used to enhance the biodgreadation rate of weathered and emulsified Arabiant Light crude oil contaminated sediment streanded within the beach at a depth of 0.15 m. Bioremediation success was evaluated by monitoring changes in the chemical composition and concentration of residual hydrocarbons, microbial CO_2 production rates in situ, and in the hydrocarbon-degrading microbial community.