REMEDIATION OF PAH-CONTAMINATED SOIL USING ACHROMOBACTER SP

Several technologies have the potential to effectively remediate soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): solvent ext raction, coal-oil agloflotation, supercritical extraction, and bioreme diation. Due to the cost effectiveness and in-situ treatment capabilit ies of bioremediation, studies were conducted to determine the efficie ncy of Achromobacter sp. to remediate an industrial contaminated soil sample. Specifically, the use of three different mineral salt solution s in conjunction with the Achromobacter sp. was investigated. The mole cular identification of the contaminants and their respective levels a fter remediation were determined using a Hewlett-Packard 1050 HPLC Pre liminary results show a 92% remediation for the use of two of the mine ral salt solutions after 20 days' treatment. After 8 weeks, the remedi ation efficiency reached 99%. Bioremediation was also critically compa red to the other potential remediation technologies.