Browsing by Author "Delanau, Clara"

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    Investigating the influence of sulphur amendment and temperature on microbial activity in bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soil
    (Elsevier, 2024-05-15) Delanau, Clara; Aspray, Thomas; Pawlett, Mark; Coulon, Frederic
    This study investigated the effectiveness of incorporating sulphur (S) with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) for enhancing microbial activity in diesel-contaminated soil during ex-situ bioremediation. While N and P amendments are commonly used to stimulate indigenous microorganisms, the potential benefits of adding S have received less attention. The study found that historically contaminated soil with a moderate concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH; 1270 mg/kg) did not have nutrient limitation, and incubation temperature was found to be more critical for enhancing microbial activity. However, soil spiked with an additional 5000 mg/kg of diesel showed increased activity following NP and NPS amendment. Interestingly, NPS amendment at 10 °C resulted in higher microbial activity than at 20 °C, indicating the potential for a tailored nutrient amendment approach to optimize bioremediation in cold conditions. Overall, this study suggests that incorporating S with N and P can enhance microbial activity in diesel-contaminated soil during ex-situ bioremediation. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of considering incubation temperature in designing a nutrient amendment approach for bioremediation, especially in cold conditions. These findings can guide the design and implementation of future effective bioremediation strategies for petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil.