Degradation of soil applied organic compounds from three petroleum wastes

Abstract

The degradation rates of three industrial wastes were evaluated under simulated land treatment conditions. A wood-preserving bottom sediment, storm-water runoff impoundment sludge, and combined API-separator/slop-oil emulsion solid waste were applied to greenhouse boxes containing Norwood silt loam or Bastrop clay soils. Soil samples were collected before waste application and 0, 180, 360 and 540 days following application. Solvent extractable organic compounds were determined gravimetrically, and a GC/MS/DS system was used to identify major extractable organic constituents. The most rapid degradation rate over a 360 day period was observed in the Bastrop soil amended with the combined API separator/slop-oil emulsion solid waste. The half-lives of the total extractable hydrocarbons ranged from a low of 217 days for the combined API waste in the Bastrop soil to a high of 340 days for the storm-water runoff waste in the Norwood soil. Major residual organic constituents in the waste amended soil after 60 days incubation included pentachlorophenol, fluoranthene, pyrene, dihydro acenaphthylene, cyclopenta phenanthrene and trimethyl naphthalene. These results indicate that large quantities of oil hydrocarbons can be degraded by soil application, and significant differences in degradation rates will occur between different wastes and soils.