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In situ treatment of Hamilton Harbour sediment
T. Murphy1*,
A. Moller2 & H. Brouwer3
1National Water Research
Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington,
Ontario, L7R 4A6,
Canada (*author for correspondence)
2Dundas Environmental, 16
Baldwin St Dundas, Ontario, L9H 1A6, Canada
3Redeemer College, 777 Highway
53E., Ancaster, Ontario, L9G 3N6, Canada
Received January 1995; accepted in
revised form June 1995
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Abstract
To enhance the biodegradation of organic contaminants,
approximately 18.5 tonnes of oxidant (calcium nitrate) and 5 tonnes
of nutrients were injected into sediments of the Dofasco Boatslip,
Hamilton Harbour. In the laboratory 78% and 68% of the oil (TPH5)
and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), respectively biodegraded
in 197 days. In the 1992 treatment in the Dofasco Boatslip, biodegradation
of organic contaminants varied from 79% for low molecular weight
compounds (BTXs), to 25/15 of the 16 priority pollutant PAHs. At
first biodegraduation of large molecular weight PAHs resulted in
the production of naphthalene (from 280 µg/g to 549
µg/g). In the 1993 treatments, 94% of the naphthalene,
and 57% of the TPHs biodegraded. The in situ biotreatment of organic
contamination takes time but for some sites the significantly lower
cost relative to dredging and confinement makes in situ treatment
a viable alternative.
Keywords: biodegradation, PAHs, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons,
toxicity, coal tar, sediments, treatment, sulphides, contaminants,
oil, TPH, BTXs
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