Changes in Soil Health with Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils Using Two Different Remediation Technologies

Sang Hwan Lee, Jung Hyun Lee, Woo Chul Jung, Misun Park, Min Suk Kim, Seung Jae Lee and Hyun Park
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Sang Hwan Lee: Technical Research Institute, Mine Reclamation Corporation, Wonju 26464, Korea
Jung Hyun Lee: Technical Research Institute, Mine Reclamation Corporation, Wonju 26464, Korea
Woo Chul Jung: Technical Research Institute, Mine Reclamation Corporation, Wonju 26464, Korea
Misun Park: Technical Research Institute, Mine Reclamation Corporation, Wonju 26464, Korea
Min Suk Kim: O-Jeong Resilience Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Seung Jae Lee: Collage of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Hyun Park: Collage of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: For sustainable soil management, there is an increasing demand for soil quality, resilience, and health assessment. After remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-contaminated soils, changes in the physicochemical and ecological characteristics of the soil were investigated. Two kinds of remediation technologies were applied to contaminated soils: land farming (LF) and high temperature thermal desorption (HTTD). As a result of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), PHC-contaminated soils were efficiently remediated by LF and HTTD. The soil health could not be completely recovered after the removal of pollutants due to adverse changes in the soil properties, especially in soil enzyme activities. Therefore, monitoring is necessary for accurate estimation of soil ecotoxicity and effective remediation, and additional soil management, such as fertilizer application or organic amendments, is needed to restore soil heath. In the case of HTTD, soil ecological properties are severely changed during the remediation process. The decision to reuse or recycle remediated soils should reflect changes in soil quality. HTTD is a harsh remediation method that results in deterioration of soil fertility and ecological functions. Alternatives, such as low-temperature thermal desorption or additional soil management using fertilizer or organic amendments, for example, are needed.

Keywords: bioremediation; landfarming; monitoring; soil health; thermal desorption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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