4.8 Article

Pyrolytic Treatment and Fertility Enhancement of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Hydrocarbons

Journal

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Volume 50, Issue 5, Pages 2498-2506

Publisher

AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02620

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Funding

  1. Chevron Corporation
  2. NSF [EAR 0949337]

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Pyrolysis of contaminated soils at 420 degrees C converted recalcitrant heavy hydrocarbons into char (a carbonaceous material similar to petroleum coke) and enhanced soil fertility. Pyrolytic treatment reduced total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) to below regulatory standards (typically <1% by weight) within 3 h using only 40-60% of the energy required for incineration at 600-1200 degrees C. Formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was not observed, with post-pyrolysis levels well below applicable standards. Plant growth studies showed a higher biomass production of Arabidopsis thaliana and Lactuca sativa (Simpson black-seeded lettuce) (80-900% heavier) in pyrolyzed soils than in contaminated or incinerated soils. Elemental analysis showed that pyrolyzed soils contained more carbon than incinerated soils (1.4-3.2% versus 0.3-0.4%). The stark color differences between pyrolyzed and incinerated soils suggest that the carbonaceous material produced via pyrolysis was dispersed in the form of a layer coating the soil particles. Overall, these results suggest that soil pyrolysis could be a viable thermal treatment to quickly remediate soils impacted by weathered oil while improving soil fertility, potentially enhancing revegetation.

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