Journal
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Volume 573, Issue -, Pages 106-114Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.005
Keywords
Biodegradation; Volatilization; Biodiesel; Degradation rates; Activated carbon
Categories
Funding
- USGS NIWR program [G06AP00005 06HQGR0071]
- FTA via the Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation Cold-Weather Fischer-Tropsch Fuels Demonstration [AK-26-7005]
- Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) fellowship
- UAF thesis completion fellowship
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The degradation of conventional diesel (D), synthetic diesel (Syntroleum), and pure fish biodiesel (B100) by indigenous microbes was investigated in laboratory microcosms containing contaminated sand. The fate of volatiles and the influence of volatilization on degradation rates were examined by placing activated carbon (AC) in microcosm headspaces to sorb volatiles. Three AC regimes were compared: no activated carbon (NAC), regular weekly AC change (RAC), and frequent AC change (FAC), where the frequency of activated carbon exchange declined from daily to weekly. Generally, the alternative fuels were biodegraded faster than diesel fuel. Hydrocarbon mineralization percentages for the different fuel types over 28 days were between 23% (D) and 48% (B100) in the absence of activated carbon, decreased to 12% (D) - 37% (B100) with weekly AC exchange, and were further reduced to 9-22% for more frequent AC change. Sorption of volatiles to AC lowered their availability as a substrate for microbes, reducing respiration. Volatilization was negligible for the biodiesel. A mass balance for the carbon initially present as hydrocarbons in microcosms with activated carbon in the head space was on average 92% closed, with 45-70% remaining in the soil after 4 weeks, 9-37% mineralized and up to 12% volatilized. Based on nutrient consumption, up to 29% of the contaminants were likely converted into biomass. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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