BIOREMEDIATION OF FORMER MANUFACTURED GAS
PLANT SITES
Vipul J. Srivastava, Assistant Director
John J. Kilbane, Environmental Microbiologist
Robert L. Kelley, Microbial Physiologist
W. Kennedy Gauger, Soil Microbiologist
Cavit Akin, Associate Biology Director
Institute of Gas Technology
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Thomas D. Hayes, Coordinator
Biotechnology Application
David G. Linz, Manager
Land and Water Quality Research
Gas Research Institute
Chicago, Illinois 60631
INTRODUCTION
Manufactured Gas Plant Wastes
Manufactured gas plants, also referred to as town gas plants, produced large quantities of tar and
related by-products. Although there are some similarities among these sites, the sites often vary
significantly in the specific types and quantities of wastes present, depending upon the types of
processes used (coal, water, or oil gas) and the era in which the plant was operational. Polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) are components of all kinds of tars, and tars are a by-product of all
of these plants. The physical and chemical characteristics of these tars vary, however, according to the
process employed.1,2 Oxide wastes from purifier boxes may contain ferrocyanide and varying
amounts of arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc (all of which appear on the Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutants list). Lamp black, clinker, cinders, and ash may also be
present.
Many of these town gas plants were located near waterways to provide access to the large quantities
of coal necessary for their processes. Consequently, aromatic hydrocarbon contamination of streams
and rivers has been traced back to some town gas sites.2
Town gas plant wastes can be categorized by five major types:
• Free tars, oils, and lamp black
• Coal tar-contaminated soils
• Coal tar/oil-contaminated waters
• Purifier box (or spent oxide) wastes
• Mixed wastes and fills.
The coal tar (predominantly PAH)-contaminated soils represent the largest waste type at most of the
sites. Depending on the site location, problems associated with contaminated waters could also be one
of the major problems associated with town gas plant wastes. Therefore, the current focus of the work
at IGT is to develop biological techniques to efficiently treat contaminated soils and waters.
BIODEGRADATION STUDIES AT IGT
There are several techniques by which a contaminated site can be cleaned onsite: chemical fixation,
soil washing, thermal treatment, and biodegradation. IGT is conducting research primarily in the
44th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, © 1990 Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
Printed in U.S.A.
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