In order to decontaminate a large area of restricted access contaminated by
a fuel spill, laboratory and field studies were developed in two steps: (a
) monitoring of the laboratory experiment on bacterial growth under aerobic
and anaerobic conditions with and without addition of nutrients; and (b) u
se of the best conditions obtained in (a) for the decontamination of the so
il. A hydraulic barrier was installed both to clean the aquifer and to avoi
d migration of hydrocarbons as a consequence of their solution in the groun
dwater and subsequent displacement. The objective was to create an ideal en
vironment for the treatment of the affected area that favoured the growth o
f the indigenous bacteria (Pseudomonas and Arthrobacter) that biodegrade th
e hydrocarbons. Monitoring of the changes in the total concentration of pet
roleum hydrocarbons in the soil subjected to bacterial action was performed
by gas chromatography. In a field study, the progress of biodegradation of
hydrocarbons was evaluated in situ by changes in subsurface CO2/O-2 levels
by means of an analyser equipped with an infrared detector. Biostimulation
and oxygen were the most influential factors for the biodegradation of the
hydrocarbons. The use of bioventing of the soil was shown as an excellent
technology to promote in situ bioremediation of the polluted area.