In situ microbial remediation of crude oil-soaked marine sediments using zeolite carrier with a polymer coating

Marine oil spill pollution is an important environmental problem in the world, especially crude oil-soaked marine sediments, because they are difficult to be remediated. In this study, in situ bioremediation of oil-soaked sediment was performed in the middle of the Bohai Sea. Oil-degrading bacteria were adsorbed on powdery zeolite (PZ)/granular zeolites (GZ) surfaces and then wrapped with poly-gamma glutamic acid (gamma-PGA). Settling column and wave flume experiments were conducted to model marine conditions and to select appropriate biological reagents. The optimal conditions were as follows: the average diameter of GZ 3 mm, mass ratio of GZ/PZ2:1, and concentration of gamma-PGA 7%. After bioremediation, over 50% of most oil-spilled pollutants n-alkanes (C-12 to C-22) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were degraded in 70 days. This work resulted in a successful trial of in situ bioremediation of oil-soaked marine sediments.