Feasability Study of the Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated by Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons

Biological treatment of contaminated soils has been used to remove organic pollutants from soils. However to estimate the feasability of such remediation technique preliminary studies are necessary to assess the mobility, the bioavailability and the toxicity of the pollutants, and the environmental, nutritional and energetic requirements of the living organisms involved. Currently there is little detailed information available on biodegradation of PAH in soil-water systems. The paper will present a strategy of investigation to determine the feasability of bioremediation of contaminated soils, including a characterization of the pollutants, of the microbial activity and of the soil properties.