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Bioremediation injections clean hydrocarbons from soil, groundwater without excavation Canadian firm offers spill cleanup without hauling and site disturbance associated with current cleanup methods — money back guarantee Steve Sutherlin PNA Managing Editor
Bioquest is out to change the image of hydrocarbon cleanup in Alaska with the introduction of an in situ bioremediation process that requires no excavation of contaminated soil. Since 1992, the Ontario based company has been using a method that involves injecting into the ground bio-organisms that eat hydrocarbons.
In addition to reducing site disturbance, the method is less expensive than the total cost of excavation and incineration of the soil, once excavation, hauling and backfill expenses are taken into account, said Dave Simpson of Bioquest. Downtime is reduced as well.
“We’ve learned a lot over nine years,” Simpson said. “Application of the product is key.”
The dry microorganisms are mixed in slurry with a catalyst and nutrient mix and added to the soil in such a way that the organisms contact all of the hydrocarbons. The microbes multiply but do not migrate, so the spill must be completely inundated with the mixture. Once the hydrocarbons are gone the organisms die and nothing is left but harmless fatty acids.
Bioquest uses proprietary blends of microbes, bio-nutrients and biocatalysts from Oppenheimer Biotechnology Inc. of Austin, Texas. Bioquest remediation services are marketed in Alaska by the local Oppenheimer distributor, A&J Supply Co. of Anchorage.
The Oppenheimer formula is collected from natural sources and shipped as a concentrated water-activated powder. The microbes are selected for their ability to degrade hydrocarbon molecules and are not genetically altered in any way. The product immediately locks up spills, preventing further spread of contaminants, and immediately lowers the flash point of fuels. The formula has a temperature tolerance of 35 degrees F to 120 degrees F and can be used in soil, fresh water and seawater, the company said. Microbes are found naturally everywhere in the world and intensive tests have shown no toxic side effects to humans or wildlife, according to Oppenheimer. The average adult has approximately three pounds of microbes on and in the body.
Bioquest has cold weather experience with the process and has successfully treated sites in Northern Ontario, Simpson said. He said the process works in anything that isn’t frozen because the bioactivity generates its own heat, however results are slower in cold temperatures. On the North Slope an eight-week window of opportunity is open for exterior remediation, Simpson said. In the Arctic summer the process accelerates due to solar gain over the long daylight hours. A typical cleanup takes 30 to 40 days.
The mixture can be injected into soil below buildings, roads and other installations without compromising structural integrity. Groundwater that is present in the spill area is cleaned as well. The deepest job the company has done is a current project at depths to 80 feet. The catalyst allows the microbes to activate at depths below 18 inches.
Money-back guarantee Bioquest offers a money-back guarantee that the treatment will result in return of the site to acceptable standards. Independent testing labs certify results. The firm works with an engineer that delivers needed testing, and takes soil samples that are tested in the lab for compatibility with the microbes. Because the formula is a living assemblage, it can be destroyed by caustic compounds, concentrated chlorine, high temperatures, some solvents, and chemicals.
If the site is treatable Bioquest will mobilize its rig from Toronto, open a local office and train and hire local crews, Simpson said. The formula works for a broad range of compounds and hydrocarbons. Typical clients include pipeline companies, the military, oil companies, and anyone who handles fuel, Simpson said.
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