Application of Oxygen-Releasing Material to Enhance <i>In Situ </i>Aerobic Bioremediation

Abstract

Contamination of groundwater by petroleum-hydrocarbons is a widespread environmental problem. Generally in plumes of petroleum-hydrocarbon contamination, the dissolved oxygen (DO) demand imposed by biodegradation of organic contaminants exceeds the DO available creating anaerobic conditions within the plume core and mid-plume areas. The objectives of this bench-scale study were to (1) develop oxygen-releasing materials for continuous oxygen supplement, (2) determine the optimal components of the studied oxygen release material, and (3) evaluate the oxygen release rate and lifetime of this material. Moreover, the potential of using a passive oxygen release material to clean up aquifers contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons was also studied. Bench experiments were conducted to design and identify the components of the oxygen-releasing materials. The mixtures of the oxygen release material were prepared by blending gypsum, calcium peroxide (CaO2), sand, and water together at a ratio of 1：0.5：0.14：0.75 by weight. Cement was used as a binder and regular medium filter sand was used to increase the permeability of the mixture. Calcium peroxide releases oxygen upon contact water (2CaO2 + 2H2O → O2 + 2Ca(OH) 2). The designed material with a density of 1.1 g/cm3 was made of 3.5-cm cube for the batch experiment. Results show that the oxygen release rate of the material is 0.025 mg/day/g. The oxygen release material is able to remain active in oxygen release for more than three months. With the application of this developed oxygen release material, the contaminated subsurface can remain an aerobic environment for subsequent aerobic bioremediation. For the future field application, the developed materials can be placed in remediation wells, trenches, horizontal wells, or barriers. Thus, the passive biobarrier system has advantages over conventional system including less maintenance, cost-effectiveness, no above-ground facilities, no groundwater pumping and reinjection, no air pollution problems, and groundwater remediation in situ. The proposed treatment system would be expected to provide a more cost-effective alternative to remediate petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated aquifers. This technology can also be applied for other hazardous waste contaminated sites.