Full-Scale Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil and Water

Abstract

The full scale remediation of contaminated soil and water involves successful interpretation and scale-up of site assessment, material characterization, and laboratory treatability data. The primary goal of the site investigation is to determine the types and quantities of material that are present at a particular site and to identify geographic, geologic and other features that will impact the direction and implementation of remediation. Laboratory characterization and treatability data are developed during evaluation of the feasibility of remedial alternatives. Each of these activities can have an enormous impact on the cost of remediation. The types of laboratory characterization and testing that occur are specific to the remedial technology to be employed during full-scale clean-up operations. In all cases however, this aspect of investigation has the same goals: to accurately determine if the compounds are amendable to treatment and the amount of time and the cost required to treat the contaminants of concern according to the regulated clean-up criteria. The focus of this paper is the integration of laboratory data into full-scale bioremediation projects.