Identification of the key factors affecting composting of a weathered hydrocarbon-contaminated soil

Abstract

The effects of the C/N ratio, CaCO₃ and PO₄ addition, and temperature profile on reactor-based composting of weathered hydrocarbon-contaminated soil were evaluated in a series of 30-day tests in temperature-controlled mini-composters. Soil containing 17,000 mg (kg dry soil)⁻¹ mineral oil and grease (MOG) was composted with maple leaves and alfalfa. Although the leaves and alfalfa also contained MOG, degradation of contaminated soil derived MOG (total MOG degradation minus MOG degradation in a control with no soil) increased from 0 to 45% as the quantity of co-substrate increased from 0 to 63%. Simulation of biopile conditions (i.e., aeration and addition of mineral salts but no co-substrate) resulted in only 6% MOG degradation. Addition of CaCO₃ before composting increased total MOG degradation from 23% to 43%. Total MOG degradation increased with decreasing C/N ratio. At a molar C/N ratio of 17, 43% of the total MOG was degraded in 30 days, while at a C/N ratio of 40 there was no total MOG degradation. When temperatures ranging from 23 to 60 °C were investigated, 50 °C maintained for 29 days resulted in the maximum degradation which was 68% of total initial MOG.