Bioremediation process design utilizing in situ soil washing

摘要

New strains of microorganisms which posses the dual capabilities for growth on surfactants and degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls are used in combination with soil washing for PCB bioremediation. Soil to be treated is washed with a surfactant to solubilize the generally hydrophobic contaminants. The surfactant solution is then treated in a bioreactor with the microorganisms. As the surfactant is degraded, the residual desolubilized contaminants are adsorbed onto an inert substrate, which is removed from the effluent and can be recycled to the bioreactor.