ABIOTIC FACTORS BEHAVIOR IN PETROLIZED RESIDUES BIORREMEDIATION BY BIOPILES AT SEMI-PILOT SCALE

Abstract

Introduction:
Bioremediation using biopile technique is intended to degrade the hydrocarbon greatest amount and restore treated soil quality using texturizers whose process is affected by abiotic factors.
Objective:
To evaluate the abiotic factors behavior and their relationship with climatic variables and texturizing material type in bioremediation of petrolized waste process through the biopile ecotechnology at semi-pilot scale.
Materials and Methods:
Abiotic factors were monitoring weekly during 365 days in petrolized residues bioremediation process, according to a categorical multifactorial experimental design where seven types of treatments were evaluated. Climatic variables were taken from records of “La Piedra” weather station belonging to Villa Clara, Cuba province.
Results and Discussion:
Changes in treatments pH are related to soil buffer capacity and used texturizers, it’s have no relation with climatic variables. The best water retention treatments were Bagasse and Thalassia testudinum. Bagasse treatment maintained its average humidity values above preset 20%. No statistical differences were found between treatments' temperatures and they had a moderately strong direct relationship with process temperature.
Conclusions:
Due to the favorable characteristics of bagasse water absorption, this proved to be the best treatment to maintain the necessary moisture requirements in biopiles, observing up to 35% humidity values.