Abstract

GARCIA, ERIKA; ROLDAN, FABIO  and  GARZON, LAURA. Evaluation of Biostimulation (Nutrients) in Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soils by Respirometry. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.1, pp.195-208. ISSN 0120-548X.

The biostimulation process was evaluated in a hydrocarbon contaminated soil by respirometry after amendment with inorganic compound fertilizer (ICF) (N:P:K 28:12:7) and simple inorganic salts (SIS) (NH4NO3 and K2HPO4). The soil was contaminated with oily sludge (40,000 mgTPH/kgdw). The oxygen uptake was measured using two respirometers (HACH^® 2173b and OXITOP^® PF600) during thirteen days (n=3). Two treatments (ICF and SIS) and three controls (abiotic, reference substance and without nutrients) were evaluated during the study. Physicochemical (pH, nutrients, and TPH) and microbiological analysis (heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms) were obtained at the beginning and at the end of each assay. Higher respiration rates were recorded in SIS and without nutrient control. Results were 802.28 and 850.72-1_d-1_,mgO₂kgps^-1d^-1 in HACH, while in OXITOP were 936.65 and 502.05 mgO₂kgps respectively. These data indicate that amendment of nutrients stimulated microbial metabolism. ICF had lower respiration rates (188.18 and 139.87 mgO₂kgps^-1d^-1 in HACH and OXITOP, respectively) as well as counts, this could be attributed to ammonia toxicity.

Keywords : biostimulation; hydrocarbons; hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms; respirometry; respiration rates.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )