Managing

a Bioremediation Project

Copyright, 1996 Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.

Introduction

Major Component of
Bioremediation Project
1. Good negotiation
2. Good project management
3. Good engineering
4. Good implementation of field operation

Project Define and Goals

BL
PU

PU
B
LI
C

CLIENT

IC

REGULATORY
AGENCY

CONSULTANT /
CONTRACTOR

PUBLIC

Information for Problem Definition

Client requirements
Regulatory requirements
Preliminary project goals
Establish contamination: Nature or Extent
Project Sensitivity: Health and Safety,
Ecological, Political
Site Constraints
Schedule requirements
Potential Solution
Determine information needs

Project Team

Project Manager:




Responsible for the total project

Have a clear definition of the project and its
goal
interaction within principal parties

Nature and extensiveness of the project

team --> project scope
Divided according to job function and
project phase.

Job Function and Proffesion for a

Bioremediation Team - 1

Contracting officer
Project Manager:







Regulatory coordinator and analysis

Community relations coordinator
Quality assurance officer
Health and safety officer
Permit coordinator
Risk Assessment Coordinator

Job Function and Proffesions for a

Bioremediation Team - 2

Design Engineer Chief

Environmental

Engineer

Civil and Structural Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Electrical Engineer


Scientific Team Leader

Geologist

and hydrogeologist

Microbiologist

Industrial Hygienists

Chemist

Job Function and Proffesions for a

Bioremediation Team - 3


Field operation chief:

Trainer

Site

engineer

Electrician

Carpenter

Welder

Plumber

Equipment operator

Equipment maintenance technician

Sampling technician

Security Officer

Job Function and Proffesions for a

Bioremediation Team - 4

Analytical Laboratory Coordinator:

Field

Analytical technicians

Data validation analyst

Chemist

SITE CHARACTERISATION

As the first and most important stage in bioremediation project

require an intense investigation
Data collection for alternative evaluation and support design
Physical, chemical, biological parameters, hydrogeological
data.
Define the potential biological system in process control
site characteristic that impact on Biological reaction.

SUPPORTING ELEMENTS

Health And Safety Plan

Spill and contingency Plan
Monitoring Plan
Community Relations Plan
Residual management
Site Utilities
Permit Requirements

Soil removed after

meeting cleanup goals

Treated soil (to

alternative
location)

Periodic sampling test clean up

rate and determine endpoint of
cleanup

Treated soil replaced into

original excavation

Aeration through
periodic tilling

Excavation of
contaminated soil

Placed
contaminate
d soil into
treatment
area

Contaminated Soil

Addition of nutrient to
enhance degradation
Baseline sampling to
determine initial
level of
contamination

Treatment area
(beamed and lined)

Health And Safety Programme and contingency Plan - 1

Toxicity of waste site chemicals

Meterial safety data sheets for major waste
site chemicals
Potential route of waste chemical exposure
Respiration protection
Protective clothing and equipment
Classification of site work area
Industrial hygiene and safety requirements
Changing room requirement

Health And Safety Programme and contingency Plan - 2

Fire fighting technique

Medical monitoring requirement
medical training : First aid, CPR, Recognise
medical symptom Standard operationg
procedure
Decontamination procedure
waste handling procedure
personal hygiene and cleanliness
Training



Off-site hands-on practice

On-site dry run prior to start-up

Monitoring Plan

Data Collection:



at start up and designated intervals

parameter monitoring: TPH, carbon dioxide,
and oxygen concentrations.

Microbial activity evaluation :



enumeration of heterotrophic and

hydrocarbon degrading soil microbes in

treated soils using standard plate-count
and most probable number (MPN)
laboratory techniques

Soil Characterization and Treatability Studies

provides baseline values for

total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH),
the indigenous population of microbes

(including hydrocarbon degraders),

nutrient levels,
pH,
porosity, and
moisture content

Process Implementation and Management: Contaminant Subject to

Treatment

The key factor in terms of a compound applicability to

natural attenuation is that the biodegradation rate of the
contaminant of concern must be fast enough to allow in
situ biodegradation before contaminant migration
To date, natural attenuation has primarily been applied
to the remediation of [petroleum hydrocarbons], such as
[benzene], [toluene], [ethyl benzene], and [xylene].
However, the use of natural attenuation to remediate
[chlorinated solvents] is a growing area (Renner, 1998).
In addition, natural attenuation is potentially applicable
for some [inorganic compounds], including metals and
non-metals. The natural attenuation technique can also
be applied to [pesticides], but less effectively (Federal
Remediation Technologies Roundtable, 1997).

Process Implementation and management: Site

Characterisation

important in setting the constraints on the natural

attenuation process because by definition natural
attenuation occurs without adding anything to the
site (National Research Council, 1993).
the need of site characterization for natural
attenuation is greater than that of other
treatment technologies (USEPA,1997).
performed to access any potential or current
threat to human health or the environment,
important to determine the fate and transport of
the contaminant of concern over time
(Wiedemeier, et al, 1996).

Process Implementation and management: Site

Characterisation
site parameters and characteristics significant to natural
attenuation. These include

Groundwater flow
Geological conditions
Nature and extent of contamination
Microbial population
Presence of carbonate minerals
Nutrient supply
Electron donors and acceptors

System Construction

There are two different types of systems

temporary and permanent.


In the temporary system, the biopile is built on top

of a clean soil layer over a liner and base.
In the permanent system, the clean soil layer is
replaced by a concrete pad.

Temporary facility construction costs are less

than permanent concrete facilities

Remediation Field Activities

Responsibility of the chief of field operation

Planning and scheduling daily activities
monitoring and directing site activities
Managing resource for :
 workers
 materials
 equipment
Line of Communication to
 Field staff
 on-site agency coordinator
 safety and health officers
Traning Programme

The major construction steps for a bioremediation facility are:

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Choose site (level area not located in a flood plain)

Prepare site for pad construction
Construct pile base
Install liner
Install protection over liner to prevent puncture
during construction
Construct clean soil layer and concrete pad
Install piping for vapor extraction/air injection unit
Install irrigation/nutrient injection system
Install leachate collection system
Load soil into facility
Begin remediation

GENERAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

(BMPs) for REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES

prevention and control of crossmedia contamination during

implementation of soils treatment
technologies for treating
contaminated soils or solid media in
compliance with applicable
regulations.

Best Management Practices

(BMPs) for Soils Treatment
Technologies

United States Environmental Protection Agency,

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(5303W) May 1997, EPA530-R-97-007
Suggested Operational Guidelines to Prevent
Cross-Media Transfer of Contaminants During
Cleanup Activities

BMPs Documents
to assist in reducing worker exposure to
contaminants by identifying the potentials for
cross-media transfer and recommending possible
control mechanisms during implementation of
soils treatment technologies.

Health and safety concerns during soils

treatment technology implementation

BMPs for REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES

Four Major Remedial Stages:

Site Preparation and Staging

Pre-Treatment

Treatment

Post-Treatment/Residuals Management

Remediation costs range

From $25 to $70 per ton depending
on the amount and type of soil, type
and level of contamination, climatic
conditions, site restrictions, and
regulatory requirements.

How Long Will It Take?

Type and amount of harmful chemical

present
Size and depth of the polluted area
Type of soil and the conditions present
Whether cleanup occurs above ground or
underground

Adapted from A Citizens Guide to Bioremediation,

The End