Bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soils at Navy National Test Site

A demonstration of ex situ bioremediation soil pile (biopile) technology was performed to investigate and optimize methods of pre-treatment, construction, operation, and performance monitoring. Soil contaminated with petroleum fuels was treated in 500 cubic yard (380 m(3)) engineered soil piles. The use of moisture and temperature probes, field respirometry testing, and innovative laboratory techniques to track degradation of various hydrocarbon classes was employed to monitor performance. Non-destructive field measurements of biological respirometry (oxygen uptake), moisture content, and temperature proved successful in monitoring the operation of the soil piles. In particular, degradation rates calculated from respirometry testing data correlated well with TEPH degradation observed in laboratory analyses. Laboratory results demonstrated that the technology removed approximately 90 percent of petroleum hydrocarbons in the diesel range (<C22) and 70 percent of heavier hydrocarbons (>C22). A carbon mass balance demonstrated that the technology effectively breaks down hydrocarbon contaminants without transferring them significantly to other media such as by air emissions or leachate water generation.