Bioremediation of diesel contaminated soil by co-digestion with domestic sewage sludge

Ex-situ bioremediation for clean up of diesel-contaminated soil was tested through aerobic and anaerobic co-degradation process with domestic sewage sludge. Co-digestion experiments of soil sludge slurry have been carried out using laboratory scale batch reactors. Ex-situ bioremediation of contaminated soil was achieved in both aerobic and anaerobic processes. In the aerobic reactors, degradation rate of diesel hydrocarbons was improved as sludge concentration was increased. Maximum degradation efficiency (75 %) was achieved at sludge concentration of 10 g TSS/L after 55 hour. The anaerobic co-digestion of soil-sludge slurry showed a great potential for soil bioremediation, where 94% of hydrocarbon removal has been achieved at digestion period of 30 days.