Bioremediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Contaminated Waste Using Composting Approaches

Abstract

Environmental pollution and in particular contaminated waste due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of current environmental concern. In an effort to find solutions, bioremediation techniques have shown promising results in the treatment of contaminated wastes. Composting approaches as a bioremediation technology to treat contaminated waste were first reported in the 1980s. This article provides a comprehensive review of research to date on the use of composting approaches for bioremediation of PAH-contaminated waste. It critically evaluates the existing research in an effort to assess the relative effectiveness of different composting approaches, determine optimal composting operation conditions, and identify the limitations and advantages of using composting approaches relative to other solutions, and recommends areas of further research effort.

Keywords:

• bioremediation
• composting
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to Cleanaway Ltd and London Remade for providing support for this study through the Entrust scheme.

Notes

^a Used as a marker for coal tar. See CIRIA (1988, Annex 1).

^b See CIRIA (1988) for details of analytical methods.

^a PAH (total of 10) is the total of anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]fluoranthrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, benzo[k]fluoranthrene, chrysene, fluoranthrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, naphthalene, phenanthrene.

^b If contamination is due to only one compound, the value used is the intervention value of that compound. Where there are two or more compounds the value for the total of these compounds applies.

^a 3 ml of 4% mercury chloride.

^b Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKMF-1767, from the Utah State University Biotechnology Center. Inoculated at 39°C.

^a Std nutr + 1% cow manure.

^b Modified OECD + 1% cow manure.

^c Std nutr + 1% activated sludge.

^d Std nutr + 5% activated sludge.

^e Std nutr + 5% autoclaved sludge.