This study was focused on biotreatment of soil which polluted by petroleum compounds (Diesel) which caused serious environmental problems. One of the most effective and promising ways to treat diesel-contaminated soil is bioremediation. It is a choice that offers the potential to destroy harmful pollutants using biological activity. The capability of mixed bacterial culture was examined to remediate the diesel-contaminated soil in bio piling system. For fast ex-situ treatment of diesel-contaminated soils, the bio pile system was selected. Two pilot scale bio piles (25 kg soil each) were constructed containing soils contaminated with approximately 2140 mg/kg total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). The amended soil: (contaminated soil with the addition of nutrients and bacterial inoculum), where the soil was mixed with 1.5% of sawdust, then supplied with the necessary nutrients and watered daily to provide conditions promoting microorganism growth. Unamended soil was prepared as a control (contaminated soil without addition). Both systems were equipped with oxygen to provide aerobic conditions, incubated at atmospheric temperature and weekly sampling within 35 days. Overall 75% of the total petroleum hydrocarbons were removed from the amended soil and 38 % of the control soil at the end of study period.
The study concluded that ex-situ experiment (Bio pile) is a preferable, economical, and environmentally friendly procedure, thus representing a good option for the treatment of soil contaminated with diesel.
