Treating PCB/Petrochemical-Contaminated Soil with Humic Mineral Concentrates: Fid-Bau Portal

Treating PCB/Petrochemical-Contaminated Soil with Humic Mineral Concentrates

Shulgin, Alexander I. / Hagerty, D. Joseph

Remediation of soil contaminated by petroleum and/or chlorinated hydrocarbons [e.g., PCBs] using Humic Mineral Concentrate (HMC) was demonstrated as efficient and effective, using laboratory and field tests. HMC molecules present dense populations of easily hydrated sorption sites, coupled with equally numerous hydrophobic sites. Thus, HMC products possess properties of both insoluble humic acids and soluble humates, in an optimal ratio, with pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Sorption on HMC combines hydrophobic interaction with covalent bonding, followed by decomposition of petroleum hydrocarbons and dechlorination and decomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Refractory organic pollutants become much more available to microbiological destruction. HMC is a natural substrate on which microorganisms flourish; HMC application supports higher microbial activity, and increases soil moisture retention and fertility. In tests, HMC completely bound petroleum present at 5 to 7 percent, within two months. Residual petroleum concentration was 0.2 percent. The petroleum residue was distributed uniformly throughout the soil volume; after treatment the soil was much more hydrophilic. Average PCB content changed from 134 mg/kg to 10.8 mg/kg after 5 months and 1.7 mg/kg after 15 months. HMC immediately eliminated odors characteristic of chlorinated organics. Both sorption and decomposition of PCBs occurred in the presence of humic acids.