Bioremediation of diesel fuel contaminated soil

Field and laboratory studies were used to study the influence of temperatur e and O-2 on the bioremediation of diesel-fuel contaminated soil. Field dat a were obtained from a landfarm located in Northern Ontario, whereas labora tory experiments were conducted using bioreactors containing diesel-spiked soil and contaminated soil from the field site. Laboratory and field degrad ation rates were quantified based on changes in the total petroleum hydroca rbons concentration and some individual components, as well as by monitorin g O-2 consumption and CO2 evolution. A degradation rate correlation was dev eloped from the laboratory data. Based on comparison with the laboratory da ta, the slow rate observed in the field was likely due to low O-2 concentra tions at the site.