Changes in Ecological Properties of Petroleum Oil-Contaminated Soil After Low-Temperature Thermal Desorption Treatment

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 227; no. 4; p. 1
• Main Authors: Yi, Yong Min, Park, Soyoung, Munster, Clyde, Kim, Gukjin, Sung, Kijune
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: acid phosphatase; Acids; Analysis; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; beta-glucosidase; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Contaminants; Dehydrogenases; Desorption; Earth and Environmental Science; earthworms; Electric properties; Electrical conductivity; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Enzymes; Germination; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogeology; Indicators (Biology); Low temperature; Methods; Nitrogen; nitrogen content; Oil pollution; Organic chemicals; Organic matter; Petroleum; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Phosphatase; Phosphatases; phosphorus pentoxide; Physicochemical properties; Plant growth; Pollutant removal; polluted soils; Productivity; Remediation; Seed germination; soil color; Soil contamination; Soil properties; soil quality; Soil Science & Conservation; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; water holding capacity; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Worms; Microbial activity; Remediation; Physicochemical property; Soil health
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-016-2804-4

Effects of low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) treatment on the ecological properties of soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons were assessed. For this purpose, various ecological properties related to soil health and physicochemical properties of the oil-contaminated soil before and after LTTD treatment were investigated. Total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and total nitrogen decreased while water-holding capacity and available P₂O₅ increased. The soil color was also changed but textural class was not changed after LTTD. The microbial number and dehydrogenase activity increased following LTTD, but there was no significant difference in the β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities. Seed germination succeeded after LTTD, but the germination rate was still lower than that in non-contaminated soil as the growth of plants and earthworms was. The results showed that overall soil health related to biological productivity and environmental functions was improved after LTTD and suggested that LTTD could be a better alternative to other harsh remediation methods. However, ecological indicators still show differences to the adjacent non-contaminated level. Therefore, to ensure safe soil reuse, the change in eco-physiochemical properties as well as contaminant removal efficiency during the remediation process should be considered.