Treatment of Hazardous Waste

Bioremediation
Landfarming

Maintenance & Costing Limitations & Concerns

Pros & Cons

Schematic Diagrams

Case Study

Conclusion
• Use of biological systems for the reduction of
pollution from air, aquatic or terrestrial systems
• Involves aerobic or anaerobic microbes to clean up
contaminated soil and groundwater which results
in degraded products
• Stimulates the growth of certain microbes that use
contaminants as a source of food and energy
• Contaminants treated using bioremediation include
oil, petroleum products, solvents and pesticides In-Situ Bioremediation
• Bioventing
• Injection of hydrogen
peroxide
Ex-Situ Bioremediation
• Slurry-Phase Bioremediation
- Bioreactor
• Solid-Phase Bioremediation
- Landfarming
- Soil biopiles
- Composting
Bioventing
The process of pumping oxygen
into the soil. Wells are injected into
the contaminated soil and oxygen
from air used by microorganisms.

Injection of Hydrogen Peroxide

Used only where water in specified
area is contaminated to avoid
leaching. Hydrogen peroxide is
pumped using pipes or sprinkler
system to the contaminated areas
of soil.
Composting
Treatment where the waste is mixed with
straw, hay or corn cobs to maximize the
water levels and air levels for the access of
microorganisms.

Soil biopiles
Piles of soil are placed over top of a bug
vacuum pump which will pull air through
the pile of soil to allow oxygen into soil
to reach microorganisms.

Landfarming
Performed in upper soil or in
biotreatment cells.
 Contaminants soils,
Landfarming is an ex-
sediments, or sludge
situ bioremediation
are incorporated into
treatment process
the soil surface and
that is performed in
periodically turned
the upper soil zone or
over or tilled to aerate
in biotreatment cells.
the mixture.

Landfarming
commonly uses a clay
or composite liner to
intercept leaching
contaminants and
prevent groundwater
pollution
Useful in treating aerobically degrading contaminants; suitable for non-volatile
contaminants at sites where large areas for treatment cells are available.

Land treatment of site-contaminated soil usually involves the tilling of an 8-12

inch layer of the soil to promote aerobic biodegradation of organic
contaminants.

The contaminated soils are excavated and spread over a prepared bed with a
built-in system to collect any leachate or contaminated liquids that seep out of
contaminant soaked soil.

The soils are periodically tilled to aerate the soil, and moisture is added when
needed.
In some cases, amendments may be added to
improve the tilth of the soil, supply nutrients,
moderate pH, or facilitate bioremediation.

Full-scale land treatment would be conducted

in a prepared-bed land treatment unit – an
open shallow reactor with an impermeable
lining on the bottom and sides to contain
leachate, control runoff, and minimize erosion
and with a leachate collection system under
the soil layer.

Hazardous wastes (highly contaminated soils)

or process wastes (distillate residues) treated in
land treatment units; the waste is applied to a
base soil layer.
 Moisture
 Influences the rate of
contaminant metabolism because
it affects the kind and amount of
soluble materials that are
available as well as the osmotic
pressure and pH of terrestrial and
aquatic systems.
Nutrients
 Nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, sulfur, copper
and trace element are
required.
 Insufficient nutrients lead
to limited microbial
activity.
Oxygen Level
Increasing the concentration
of electron acceptor and
nutrient in groundwater and
surface water.
Oxygen is the main electron
acceptor for aerobic
bioremediation.

Temperature Chemical Nature of Pollutant pH

 Influences the rate of  Aliphatic compound easily degraded than  Soil pH
biodegradation by aromatic ones. affects the
controlling the rates of  Presence of cyclic ring structure and length chains availability
enzyme catalyzed or branches decrease the efficiency of of nutrients.
reaction. biodegradation.  Optimal pH:
 Optimal temperature for  Water soluble compounds more easily degraded. 6.5 to 8.5
biodegradation: 15-65 ⁰C  Presence of halogen inhibit biodegradation.
 Toluene Aromatics

Pseudomonas putida Dechloromonas aromatica

Deinococcus radiodurans Methylibium petroleiphilum

Solvent and heavy metals Methyl-tert-butyl-ether

Moisture Content Monitoring
Effective moisture levels are 40 - 85 % of water-holding
capacity in the soil.
High Moisture - Movement of air through the soil is restricted

pH maintenance
Optimal pH for landfarming operations is between 6 and 8
Soil acidity – Addition of sulphur should be balanced with lime

Microbial Population and Nutrient

Landfarm should operate for a minimum between 6 months to 2
years to monitor the microbial growth with nutrient.

System Maintenance
- Drainage control system
- Leachate collection system
**All price based on USD
 Limitations
On-site and off-site problems
Creating a larger volume of contaminated
material
Increasing time of remediation to complete
due to uncontrolled contaminants
Presence of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds
(SVOCs)
Presence of dust during tilling operations
Depth of treatment is limited
Space of treatment area
Concerns
Runoff collection facilities must be
constructed and monitored
The rate at which contaminants are
degraded must be balanced
Conditions of biological degradation should
be maintained and controlled
Off-gas control is required
Dust control is required
Normally 18 inches
Large space is required
 Natural process.

Treatment of some compound

Relatively inexpensive. such as PAH /PCB is too slow.

Does not transfer contaminant to Difficult to extrapolate from

other medium. bench and pilot scale studies
to full-scale field operation.

Works over large space

contaminated area. Takes longer than other
treatment option.

Less manual supervision

Biological processes are often
highly specific.
 Landfarming has been proven most
successful in treating petroleum
hydrocarbons, less volatile and
biodegradable contaminants.
 Contaminants that have been successfully
treated:
 Diesel fuel
 No. 2 and No.6 fuel oils
 JP-5 jet fuel
 Oily sludge
 Wood preserving wastes (PCP & PAHs)
 Pesticides