A Review On Bioremediation Of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminants In Soil

CATEGORY: REMEDIATION
Kathmandu University Journal Of Science, Engineering And Technology, Vol. 8, No. I, February, 2012, pp 164-170
A Review On Bioremediation Of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminants In Soil
1 Bijay Thapa*, 1 Ajay Kumar KC, 2 Anish Ghimire
thapabijay88@hotmail.com
1 M.Tech in Environmental Engineering, Civil Eng. Dept., National Institute of Technology-Kurukshetra, Haryana 136119, India
2 M.E. in Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani 12120, Bangkok, Thailand
ABSTRACT
Reviews the pros and cons of using bioremediation process for the remediation of petroleum contaminants in soil. Bioremediation along with other processes have been used to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in soil in past. The major constituents of most crude oils are biodegradable, so bioremediation has proven to be cheap and efficient than others techniques. Different organisms are employed using various technique of bioremediation according to hydrocarbon present in the contaminated soil. Bioremediation is simpler, less labor intensive and public attitude toward bioremediation are generally favorable, the lack of knowledge about microorganisms and their natural role in the environment could affect the acceptability of their use. However, bioremediation can be considered one of the best technologies to deal with petroleum product contaminated soil.
INTRODUCTION
Most organic chemicals and many inorganic ones are subject to enzymatic attack through the activities of living organisms. Most of modern society's environmental pollutants are included among these chemicals, and the actions of enzymes on them are usually lumped under the term biodegradation. The productive use of biodegradative processes to remove or detoxify pollutants that have found their way into the environment and threaten public health, usually as contaminants of soil, water, or sediments is bioremediation.
Soil contamination with oil spills is the major global concern today. Soil contaminated with Petroleum has a serious hazard to human health [1], causes organic pollution of ground water which limits its use, causes economic loss, environmental problems, and decreases the agricultural productivity of the soil [2]. The concern stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapors from the contaminants, and from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil. The toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons to microorganisms, plants, animals and humans is well established. The toxic effects of hydrocarbons on terrestrial higher plants and their use as weedkillers have been ascribed to the oil dissolving the lipid portion of the cytoplasmic membrane, thus allowing cell contents to escape (Currier & Peoples, 1954, as cited in [3]). The most noticeable sources of contamination are releases from manufacturing and refining installations, oil-tanker spills and accidents during transportation of the oil. Crude oils are transported long distance either on land pipeline or on water in tankers and both of which are prone to oil spill and accidents [3]. A great part of the oil pollution problem results from the fact that the major oil-producing countries are not the major oil consumers. It follows that massive movements of petroleum have to be made from areas of high production to those of high consumption.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.ku.edu.np/kuset/vol8_no1/20_Bijay_Thapa.pdf