Field-scale investigations on the biodegradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds and HCH in the subsurface environment

The biological in situ remediation of a former pesticide production site, highly contaminated with chlorobenzenes, chlorophenols and hexachlorocyclohexanes, was studied for a period of one year. Field experiments testing the remediation technology were carried out in the subsurface to a depth of 5.5 m. Detailed monitoring of several chemical and microbiological parameters was made in order to evaluate the remediation success. The initial pollution of this site ranged from 0.03–0.30 g EOX (extractable halogenated organic compounds)/kg soil in the saturated layer to 1–20 g kg−1 EOX in the unsaturated layer, whereas the impounded water was polluted with 8–13 mg L−1 AOX (adsorbable halogenated organic compounds). No significant decrease of the pollutants in the subsoil was observed, although oxygen and nutrients were supplied in sufficient concentrations. In contrast, several of the chlorinated organic compounds were eliminated from the water treatment plant, either by physical or biological processes. Based on measurements of AOX in different parts of the plant, 26% of the pollutants was found adsorbed on the activated carbon and 3% was found in the sludge of the filter back-wash. Dependent on these measurements, elimination of 70% of the pollutants was attributed to microbial degradation. The latter fact is supported by oxygen consumption data, by increase in the microbial counts and by changes in the distribution of the pollutants in the plant effluent. Among the chlorobenzenes, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and among the hexachlorocyclohexanes, a-hexachlorocyclohexane were eliminated preferentially. The results suggest that an in situ remediation of a site polluted with chlorinated organic compounds cannot be recommended; however, an on site circulation water treatment is possible by a combination of physical and biological processes.