42    BIOREMEDIATION OF A PETROLEUM-
CONTAMINATED SITE: A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS
T. Viraraghavan, Professor
Faculty of Engineering
University of Regina
Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2
D. Mihial, Project Engineer
Agra Earth and Environmental
Regina, SK, Canada
R. B. Thomson and M. D. Mortin, Students
Faculty of Engineering
University of Regina
Regina, SK, Canada.
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to determine if bioremediation was a feasible alternative for the remediation of a particular petroleum-contaminated site in Saskatchewan, Canada. The feasibility
study included the following: site investigation, site assessment, degradation rates, bioremediation alternatives (landfarming, composting, and biopile/biofiltration integration), feasibility
analysis and preliminary design of the selected alternative. It was determined that the biopile
composting alternative was best suited for this project.
INTRODUCTION
Petroleum-contaminated sites are a common occurrence in our environment today. The sites
are contaminated through spills, leaking petroleum storage tanks, and earlier disposal of hazardous wastes at these sites. There are numerous alternatives that are suitable for remediating the
site to acceptable standards. The selection of a suitable method for the remediation of a contaminated site depends on site and hazardous waste characteristics and regulatory guidelines.
In the mid-1960s, a company in Saskatchewan, Canada excavated a pit and used it as a dumping ground for petroleum wastes that were generated by its operations. This process continued
for a number of years before the pit was finally covered. There were no environmental concerns
or strict regulations to worry about and abide by at that time. The company is now planning to
move its operations to a new location in a period of two to three years. The company is now well
aware of its environmental obligations and is planning to remediate the site to comply with regulatory guidelines. Based on the approximate costs of various remediation alternatives shown in
Figure 1, it was determined by the company that bioremediation should be examined further to
remediate the site.
The main objective of this study was to determine if bioremediation was a feasible technique
for the remediation of the company's contaminated pit based on short-term effectiveness (2-3
years limit), cost (limited budget), and ease of implementation.
SITE INVESTIGATION
The exact boundaries of the contaminated pit were not known. Site investigation and analyses
were performed to determine the following: types of hydrocarbons present in the contaminated
52nd Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings. 1997, Ann Arbor Press. Chelsea, Michigan 48118. Primed in
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