Abstract

MANILLA-PEREZ,, Efraín; POGGI-VARALDO, Héctor M  and  CHAVEZ-GOMEZ,, Benjamín. Evaluación del funcionamiento de un tambor rotatorio aplicado a la biorremediación de un suelocontaminado con hidrocarburos . INCI [online]. 2004, vol.29, n.9, pp.515-520. ISSN 0378-1844.

Among bioremediation processes, the rotating drum bioreactor is a promising alternative for the ad situ restoration of soils polluted with hydrocarbons. The effects of number and type of baffles, as well as rotating speed, on the hydrocarbon removal process were examined in a soil treated in a rotating open drum of 4l. An aged silty-loam soil was used, containing 50000mg/kg of total hydrocarbon oil (HTP). The rotating speed was the variable with the greatest effect on the degradation process, and an optimal speed of 10rpm was identified in the interval 5-20rpm. The maximal percentage of HTP removal obtained was 65%, when the drum was operated with 4 baffles and 10rpm. The number and type of baffles did not have a significant effect over the implemented operational conditions. According to the results obtained, the open drums could be successfully applied, with lower treatment times, to the remediation of aged heavily contaminated soil.

Keywords : Biorremediación; Lodos Contaminados /; Tambor Rotatorio.