Mixture Of Hydrocarbon Compounds Research Articles

Residual hydrocarbons in long-term contaminated soils: implications to risk-based management

Petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contamination is a widespread and severe environmental issue affecting many countries’ resource sectors. PHCs are mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds with varying molar masses that naturally attenuate at different rates. Lighter fractions attenuate first, followed by medium-molar-mass constituents, while larger molecules remain for longer periods. This results in significant regulatory challenges concerning residual hydrocarbons in long-term contaminated soils. This study examined the potential risks associated with residual PHC and its implications for risk-based management of heavily contaminated soils (23,000–26,000 mg PHC/kg). Ecotoxicological properties, such as seedling emergence and growth of two native plant species—small Flinders grass (Iseilema membranaceum) and ruby saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa)—and earthworm survival tests in PHC-contaminated soils, were assessed. Additionally, the effects of aging on the attenuation of PHC in contaminated soils were evaluated. Toxicity responses of plant growth parameters were determined as no-observed-effect concentrations: 75%–100% for seedling emergence, < 25%–75% for plant shoot height, and 75%–100% for earthworm survival. After 42 weeks of aging, the total PHC levels in weathered soils decreased by 14% to 30% and by 67% in diesel-spiked soil due to natural attenuation. Dehydrogenase enzyme activity in soils increased during the initial aging period. Furthermore, a clear shift of bacterial communities was observed in the soils following aging, including enrichment of PHC-resistant and -utilizing bacteria—for example, Nocardia sp. This study underscores the potential of natural attenuation for eco-friendly and cost-effective soil management, underlining that its success depends on site-specific factors like water content and nutrient availability. Therefore, we recommend detailed soil assessments to evaluate these conditions prior to adopting a risk-based management approach.

Thermo-chemical analysis and modeling of combustion of waste pyrolysis gaseous products

The results of the study of joint pyrolysis of various types of waste (municipal solid waste, plastic waste, etc.) are presented. Preliminarily crushed and dried wastes were fed into the pyrolysis chamber of the model experimental setup. Thermal energy required for heating raw materials and carrying out their thermal destruction was obtained by burning a part of the pyrolysis gases. The rest of these gases were removed from the pyrolysis chamber and cooled. The temperature in the pyrolysis zone was about 650 °C. Plant productivity was up to 500 kg/h. The target product was the liquid phase, which is a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds. When organizing the processes, the yield of solid carbon residue was minimized. The obtained mass ratio of the final gas/liquid products was approximately equal to 1/6. Experimental results of the analysis of the chemical composition of the gas and liquid fractions are presented. The results of modeling the combustion of pyrolysis products at different amounts of supplied air are also shown. The operating parameters at which the optimum temperature level in the pyrolysis zone is maintained are numerically determined and recommended.

Enhanced Hydrocarbons Degradation in the Rhizosphere of Mangrove Plants by a Halophilic Bacillus Subtilis Subtilis Strain

Sulaibikhat Embayment is a severely contaminated coastline in the State of Kuwait. The contaminating pollutants include hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and suspended particles. The objective of this study is to assess the ability of mangroves planted in the Sulaibikhat Embayment to enhance hydrocarbons degradation by the activities of rhizospheric hydrocarbon degrading bacteria (HDB). Accordingly, samples were collected from the rhizosphere of selected mangrove plants and from sediments in the same location but away from mangrove marshes. The samples were analyzed chemically and microbiologically before being enriched with a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds (HC) to isolate HDB. A number of halophilic HDB were isolated from mangroves rhizosphere and the surrounding sediments such as Pseudomonas balearica, Microbacterium barkeri and Gordonia soli. On the other hand, Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus subtilis subtilis were both isolated only from mangroves rhizosphere. Among the isolated HDB, Bacillus subtilis subtilis was distinguished with its high degradation rates of the tested HC including poly aromatic hydrocarbons. According to our knowledge, this is the first Bacillus subtilis HC-degrading strain that was isolated from Kuwait Bay and from mangroves rhizosphere.

Investigation of Microbes in the Rhizosphere of Selected Trees for the Rhizoremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils

Hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms (HDMs), associated with the rhizosphere of Conocarpus lancifolius and Ficus infectoria trees grown in bioremediated soil, were isolated under controlled laboratory conditions. The selected trees were used to phytoremediate oil-contaminated soil for three successive growing seasons. At the end of the phytoremediation experiment, 85.7% of measurable total petroleum hydrocarbon was degraded in the rhizosphere soil associated with Conocarpus lancifolius compared to 78.6% in the rhizosphere of Ficus infectoria. The detectable concentrations of some polyaromatic hydrocarbons were less than 0.02 ppm. The HDM isolation process was conducted at 35°C under aerobic conditions. The isolated HDMs were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fatty acid methyl ester analysis. Differences in the genera of the isolated HDMs and their assessed efficiency in degrading a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds between the two trees were noted.

Investigation of Microbes in the Rhizosphere of Selected Grasses for Rhizoremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils

Hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms (HDM) associated with the rhizosphere of Paspalum vaginatum and Zoysia tenuifolia grown in bioremediated soil were isolated under controlled laboratory conditions. The isolation process was conducted at 30°C and 45°C to isolate mesophilic and thermotolerant microorganisms, respectively, under aerobic conditions. The isolated HDMs were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. Although differences in the genera of the isolated HDMs occurred between the two grasses, Arthrobacter spp and Bacillus spp were isolated from the rhizosphere of both plants. The efficiency of the isolated microorganisms in degrading a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds (HC) was also assessed. Among the bacterial isolates, Pseudomonas boreopolis was found to be the most effective HC degrader, while the only fungal isolate, Fusarium solani, demonstrated higher degradation rates than most of the bacterial isolates. A mixture of all the microbial isolates demonstrated a high degradation percent of HC. The isolated microorganisms thus appear to work synergistically to degrade efficiently all the tested organic compounds.