Biologically-assisted treatment of soils both contaminated with Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

AGNELLO, A. C.; HUGUENOT, D.; VAN HULLEBUSCH, E.D.; ESPOSITO, G.

Hasselt

Conferencia; 9th International Conference on Phytotechnologies; 2012

University of Hasselt

This PhD research plan hypothesizes that the phytoremediation of contaminated soils with both heavymetals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be improved through the chemical treatmentwith biodegradable compounds such as low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) and surfactants added asamendments. LMWOAs and surfactants are proposed to increase the bioavailability of HMs and PAHs to plantsand microorganisms, in order to enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of contaminated soils in anenvironmentally friendly approach. The main general objective is to study the effect of LMWOAs and surfactantson the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with HMs and PAHs. Specific objectives include: (1) studying theeffects of LMWOAs and surfactants on the HM and PAH bioavailability, (2) analyzing the phytoremediationefficiency of LMWOAs and surfactants, (3) comparing the phytoremediation efficiency of LMWOAs andsurfactants and (4) proposing a combined amendment treatment with LMWOAs and surfactants suitable for thephytoremediation of soils contaminated with both HMs and PAHs. To accomplish the mentioned objectives thefollowing methodologies are intended. The bioavailability of contaminants will be studied by in situ soil solutionextraction studies. The rate of HM phytoextraction will be assessed by the determination of plant biomass,quantification of HMs in plant parts and soils and calculation of phytoextraction parameters. The study of theperformance of PAH rhizodegradation will be achieved by the quantification of PAHs in soil, calculation of PAHsremoval rate and measurement of soil microbial biomass and activity.