Case study
Ethylene glycol contaminated site bioremediation
Treated Matrix
Groundwater and unsatured soil
Contaminants
Ethylene Glycol
Ethane-1,2-diol – (CH2OH)2
Project Scale
Full scale remediation
Remediation Type
In situ bioremediation through direct injection of amendments in groundwater and unsatured soil
Accidental spill from a tank truck transporting antifreeze in Turin province, caused an ethylene glycol and benzoic acid contamination of the groundwater and the vadose zone. At Biosearch Ambiente R&D Laboratory we determine the most suitable bioremediation system for the reclamation of the contaminated area. Assessment of possible remediation technologies was made considering cost to benefits analysis. From this study emerged that the best technology to apply in this case was Biosearch Ambiente bioremediation system, which consisted in the biostimulation of the naturally occurring microorganism to degrade the contaminants in situ.
Bioremediation system was set up by periodic delivery of an specific nutrient mixture on top soil, that was then ploughed up to 2 meters depth, to stimulate the development of naturally occurring degrading microbial communities on soil. Simultaneously, nutrients were also delivery into groundwater by injections wells.
Ethylene glycol was successfully biodegraded in situ from soil and groundwater in few months. In the figures below performance data are shown.
