Bioremediation of the Petroleum Hydrocarbons, BTEX, and the Gasoline Additive, MTBE

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

McCord, Elzie

Keywords

Bioremediation, Petroleum, Contamination

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylene isomers (BTEX) are the most prevalent pollutants at petroleum-contaminated sites. The oxygenate, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), has recently become an additional widespread contaminant. BTEX and MTBE are compounds that can cause acute problems such as headaches and nausea and chronic illnesses such as central nervous system depression, mental confusion and even cancer. Exposure to oil spills can lead to reduced numbers of species and in aquatic communities, acute toxic effects on shellfish leads to the collapse of various food chains and eventually the death of higher carnivores. It is therefore necessary to detect, monitor and understand the movement of contaminant plumes. Plume concentration and migration is dependent upon not only biological and chemical factors but also physical parameters such as those governed by soil composition. The soil composition of the subsurface helps to determine the tendency of the plume to travel horizontally, longitudinally or transversely as well as the likelihood of contaminant sorption and hence reduced biological availability. Further plume analysis can reveal natural attenuation rates that will assist in treatment decisions. In severe cases, enhanced remediation method must be implemented. Enhanced remediation processes are often conducted ex-situ such as incineration, thermal desorption, stabilization, composting, bioreacting and landfarming. However, these methods can accrue high costs because the contaminants must be extracted and transported. Bioreactors are often suitable remediation solutions because of the significant control they offer over various physical and biological parameters. Also, augmentation with the bacteria, Pseudomonas putida, has been found to readily degrade BTEX but not yet MTBE. Nevertheless, recent research has indicated that there are microorganisms capable of significant MTBE mineralization.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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