An Investigation of the Ability of a 14C-Labeled Hydrocarbon Mineralization Test to Predict Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is a widely accepted technology for the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Treatability studies are usually carried out to assess the biodegradation potential of the contaminants and to design optimal treatments. Laboratory studies measuring soil respiration are often used. One method consists of monitoring the mineralization of a ¹⁴C-labeled hydrocarbon surrogate added to the contaminated soil. This study investigates the ability of this method to properly predict the removal of the hydrocarbon contaminants initially found in soils. Mineralization of ¹⁴C-labeled hexadecane was monitored in seven soils contaminated with various hydrocarbon mixtures, both fresh and weathered, in microcosm experiments. Reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations was measured simultaneously in separate microcosms. Both types of microcosms were subjected to the same amendment regimes. For all soils, poor correlation was observed between the mineralization and TPH reduction data sets. Mineralization data supported contaminants removal data in only one soil. Findings indicate that the radioactive surrogate method does not reliably predict the extent of, and the effect of amendments on, the removal of the hydrocarbons initially present in soil, and may therefore predict suboptimal treatment regimes. Recommendations for soil treatability protocols are provided.