Impact of hydrocarbon type, concentration and weathering on its biodegradability in soil

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering Vol. 46; no. 10; pp. 1042 - 1049
• Main Authors: Maletić, Snežana P, Dalmacija, Božo D, Rončević, Srđan D, Agbaba, Jasmina R, Perović, Svetlana D. Ugarčina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-2011; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: adverse effects; Applied sciences; biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Carbon dioxide; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Contamination; Crude oil; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Degradation; dehydrogenise activity; Diesel; diesel fuel; Diesel fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Marine; oils; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Petroleum; petroleum hydrocarbons; polluted soils; Pollution; production; resins; sandy soils; soil; Soil (material); Soil - chemistry; Soil and sediments pollution; soil pollution; Soils; Toxicity; Weathering; Biodegradation; Hydrocarbon; Biodegradability; Toxicity; Carbon dioxide; Dumping site; dehydrogenise activity; soil; Refinery; Sandy soil; Soil pollution; CO; Material weathering; Surveillance; Crude oil; Production; Weathering; petroleum hydrocarbons
• ISSN: 1532-4117; 1093-4529; 1532-4117
• DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2011.590380

The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of the hydrocarbon type and concentration, as well as the total effect of the natural weathering process to hydrocarbon biodegradability in sandy soil and the environment. In this experiment, sandy soil was separately contaminated with 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% and 3.5% of diesel and crude oils. Oil contaminated soil was taken from the Oil Refinery dumping sites after 9 years of weathering, and its concentration was adjusted to the above-mentioned levels. The biodegradation process was monitored by measuring CO₂, evolution rate, hydrocarbon degradation rate and dehydrogenase activity. The favourable concentration ranges for the soil contaminated with diesel oil were 1.0%, with concentrations at about 2.0% causing slightly adverse effects to CO₂ production which was overcome after 2 weeks, and with 3.5% diesel oil causing significant toxicity. For soil contaminated with crude oil, 2.0% was found to be optimum for effective biodegradation, with 3.5% crude oil also causing adverse effects to CO₂ production, although less so than the same concentration of diesel oil. No adverse effect was obtained for any concentration of the weathered oil, as after the weathering process, the remaining contaminants in the soil were mostly poorly degradable constituents like asphaltenes, resins etc. It has been proposed that such residual material from oil degradation is analogous to, and can even be regarded as, humic material. Due to its inert characteristics, insolubility and similarity to humic materials it is unlikely to be environmentally hazardous.