A SCREENING PROTOCOL FOR BIOREMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL

A bioremediation treatability protocol for soil is presented which can provide feasibility study and remedial action engineers maximum infor mation with respect to the viability and efficiency of bioremediation. The protocol, divided into two main phases, progressively evaluates t he viability of biodegradation and the requirements for optimization o f the process once implemented. Chemical and microbiological baseline conditions and the potential for contaminant degradation are assessed during Phase I screening. During Phase II the endpoint achievable and kinetics of the biodegradation reactions can be established with pan a nd slurry reactor tests for ex-situ systems or column tests for in-sit u systems. Models are reviewed which can predict the rate of removal o f organic constituents, and these data in conjunction with the Phase I and II may be used to estimate the potential time required to achieve cleanup standards, assess the relative importance of biological versu s chemical removal mechanisms, and compare expected performance of alt ernative bioremediation methods.