A comprehensive framework for determining efficient bioremediation strategies for petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils in cold regions

确定寒冷地区石油烃污染土壤有效生物修复策略的综合框架

• 批准号: 530891-2018
• 负责人: Ghoshal, Subhasis
• 金额: $ 5.2万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=691625
• 关键词: comprehensive; framework; determining; efficient; bioremediation

There are a significant number of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated sites in Canadian northern territories and bioremediation, where soil microbes transform hazardous petroleum hydrocarbon compounds to less hazardous or non-hazardous products, is considered a cost-effective technology for clean up of those sites. However, low temperatures in cold regions may limit microbial degradation activity, and thus soil heating or optimizing bioremediation for different temperature regimes is required for improving bioremediation performance. Biostimulation by addition of nutrients, moisture, and oxygen to the contaminated soils can enhance microbial activity in northern sites. However, it is unclear if biostimulation can be tailored to the hydrocarbon-degrading microbial community only, rather than other soils microbes that may not be involved in hydrocarbon biodegradation. This study will systematically assess how temperature regimes and biostimulation affect the microbial community composition and activity, and if the timing of nutrient addition could lead to more efficient bioremediation operations adapted to low temperatures. The assessment of new biostimulation approaches will be based on data collected from microcosms and as well as pilot-scale bioreactors operated using various site soils and at different temperature regimes relevant to the sites. Residual, un-degraded fractions of contamination that are above regulatory clean-up levels is a common challenge. As part of this study, we will assess if the soil aggregate micro-structure and in particular, the fraction of pores inside soil aggregates which are not accessible to soil microorganisms, is a determining factor for bioremediation endpoints. The studies will be conducted in close collaboration with the industrial partner, Hydro-Quebec, who is interested in the sustainable development of the north and its communities. Undergraduate, PhD and postdoctoral students will be trained in this project on new approaches for effective bioremediation in northern sites.

加拿大北部地区有大量受到石油碳氢化合物污染的地点，而生物修复（土壤微生物将危险的石油碳氢化合物转化为危害较小或无害的产品）被认为是清理这些地点的一种经济有效的技术。然而，寒冷地区的低温可能会限制微生物的降解活性，因此需要对土壤加热或针对不同温度范围优化生物修复，以提高生物修复性能。通过向受污染的土壤添加养分、水分和氧气来进行生物刺激，可以增强北方地区的微生物活动。然而，尚不清楚生物刺激是否只能针对碳氢化合物降解微生物群落，而不是其他可能不参与碳氢化合物生物降解的土壤微生物。这项研究将系统地评估温度状况和生物刺激如何影响微生物群落的组成和活动，以及营养物添加的时机是否可以导致适应低温的更有效的生物修复操作。新生物刺激方法的评估将基于从微观世界收集的数据以及使用不同场地土壤和在与场地相关的不同温度条件下运行的中试规模生物反应器。高于监管清理水平的残留、未降解污染物部分是一个常见的挑战。作为本研究的一部分，我们将评估土壤团聚体的微观结构，特别是土壤团聚体内部土壤微生物无法进入的孔隙比例是否是生物修复终点的决定因素。这些研究将与工业合作伙伴魁北克水电公司密切合作进行，该公司对北部及其社区的可持续发展感兴趣。 本科生、博士生和博士后学生将在该项目中接受关于在北部地区进行有效生物修复的新方法的培训。