Application of vermicomposting for the biorremediation of contaminated soil by polycyclic aromatic hidrocarbons / Aplicação de vermicompostagem para a biorremediação de solos contaminados por hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

One of the main environmental problems that we face today is the soil contamination due to storage fuel tanks leakages. Fuels are comprised of a variety of hydrocarbons, among them are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Those are classified by US-EPA and NIOSH as prioritary contaminants, due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristics and their persistence in the environment. This work proposes ways of recovering contaminated soil with such hydrocarbons using vermicomposting. It was investigated the role of organic matter during the process to improve the PAHs degradation in the soil system, as well as the influence of the earthworms. In different boxes it was added soil doped with 2% of diesel and established amounts of manure cast. The inoculation was carried out with Eisenia foetida earthworm. Seven samplings were performed during three months and the PAHs determined by HPLC, as well as analyses that indicated the humification. By following the contaminants concentration during the process, it was observed that vermicomposting can be applied to clean up contaminated soils by degrading the contaminants, proving the vermicomposting is an useful tool for soil remediation. The advantages of the vermicomposting are: it can be carried out in situ; it is a natural process that leaves the soil enriched with nutrients; and it is economically viable. During the process, differences in the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil were observed due to the mineralization process and an increase in the humic acid content. The sorption of naphthalene, antracene and benzo(a)pirene in soil and in vermicompost was also studied, in order to verify the ability and availability of those compounds for the degradation process. The increase of the number of aromatic rings takes to a greater sorption in the environmental matrices soil and vermicompost.

ASSUNTO(S)

hpas vermicomposting vermicompostagem biorremediação pahs biorremediation

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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