Evaluation of two commercial bioaugmentation products for enhanced removal of petroleum from a wetland

• Published in: Ecological engineering Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 263 - 277
• Main Authors: Simon, Mark A., Bonner, James S., Page, Cheryl A., Townsend, R. Todd, Mueller, Danica C., Fuller, Chris B., Autenrieth, Robin L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2004
• Subjects: Bioaugmentation; Biodegradation; Bioremediation; Petroleum; Wetland; USA, Texas, Houston; USA; USA, Texas, San Jacinto R; Biodegradation; Bioremediation; Bioaugmentation; Wetland; Petroleum
• ISSN: 0925-8574; 1872-6992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2004.06.005

This research evaluated the performance of two commercial bioaugmentation products to enhance petroleum bioremediation in a wetland. The 152-day experiment was conducted at a research facility on the San Jacinto River near Houston, TX, USA, using a controlled oil application to reduce heterogeneity normally associated with spilled petroleum. Additional treatments included inorganic nutrients and an oiled control (intrinsic). Sediment samples were analyzed for petroleum chemistry, nutrients, microbial population numbers (most-probable-number), and toxicity (Microtox ® 100% Test and amphipod bioassay). The GC–MS results for “total target saturate hydrocarbons” and “total target aromatic hydrocarbons” were hopane-normalized for petroleum biodegradation interpretation. When comparing the enhanced treatments to the oiled control, there were no statistical differences in the first-order biodegradation rate coefficients. Similarly, there were no statistical differences in the microbial population numbers. The nutrient analyses indicated that there were higher ammonium concentrations for the inorganic nutrients treatment and one of the bioaugmentation product treatments. There was statistically-higher amphipod mortality for all three bioremediation treatments as well as the oiled control when compared to the unoiled control plots. However, whether this is due to the amendments or the oil is uncertain. There was no statistical correlation between oil concentrations and Microtox ® toxicity ( r 2 < 0.01). Overall, none of the bioremediation treatments appeared to benefit the wetland recovery in these environmental conditions.