Bioremediation of oil industry products contaminated soils, for their reintegration in the socioeconomical circuit, SOLPETRO

• the accomplishment of a complex research regarding the soil pollution, especially of those that are neighboring the oil exploitation and refinery stations (pollutant type, pollution degree, pollution depth);
• the determination in real time by fluorescence of the soil oil contaminants;
• the adoption of strategies, necessary measures and methods for the ecological rehabilitation so as to increase the value of the land and its use in the community benefit;
• the rehabilitation using a bioremediation biological method of a characteristic pilot area from a contaminated area.

• determine the main eco-physiological groups of micro-organisms implied in the carbon and nitrogen circuit;
• isolate, purify and select the inland biodegradative capacity micro-organisms that are present in the samples of very contaminated soils (Mycobacterium flavesens, Mycobacterium sp., Rhodococcus sp., Acinetobacter sp.);
• adapt the micro-organisms selected in lab conditions, by setting the optimum conditions of temperature, pH, aeration, nutritive substances;
• test the biodegradative capacity of the selected microorganisms;
• rehabilitation of a pilot surface with the new method;
• a PC7 project proposal on the base of the obtained results.

       The novelty degree consists of:

• realization of an inventory of the oil product contaminated fields, so as to delimitate both the affected areas and the vertical/horizontal distribution of the oil product pollutants;
• identification and characterization of the petroleum pollutants. Chemical and physical soil nature characterization so as to select the optimal bioremediation method;
• realization GIS maps of the contaminated surfaces, taking into account the pollutants nature;
• selection of the utilized micro-organisms in correlation with the oxygen transfer process efficiency;
• correlation of the soil pollution with the local atmospheric pollution;
• determination of some micro-organism species belonging to local microflora adapted to the ecopedological conditions of the area which can be utilized for bioremediation;
• systematic research of bioremediation both from the point of view of the employed species and of the external factors that influence the bioremediation efficiency;
• the use for the first time in Romania of the laser active tele-detection method by fluorescence Lidar system for the detection in situ of soil organic pollutants.

Complexity degree:

• identification of the pollution sources which, in the case of petroleum products pollution, are the most complex, both from the point of view of the spatial distribution (fixed – oil platforms, diffuse – pipelines network for alimentation and distribution, railway stations), and of the nature of the chemical compounds released in environment, from crude oil to derived products and oil residues, each generating specific interactions;
• selection of the bioremediation method according to the pollutant concentration in soil: 1.For concentrations exceeding 5%, a pre-treatment will be applied (contaminated soil washing with aqueous solution containing active surface agents followed by the proper bioremediation). 2.For lower concentrations, one will directly apply the bioremediation method;
• influence of the edaphic factors on bioremediation process efficiency, one will study: the influence of soil characteristics: pH, temperature, nutrient content; the changes of the redox potential; the increase of the microbial activity;
• fluorescence analysis of soil hydrocarbons correlated with determination in real time of the gases from soil surface;
• obtaining information from the existing maps (topographical, geological, soil maps) or from photogrames, satellite images;
• setting the information in digital format and data base execution;
• selection of the representation format of the maps (vector or raster) utilized for analysis and conversion of the available digital information in this system;
• reaching the maximum efficiency of bioremediation according with: age of contamination; geographical localization; soil type; soil porosity; pH; temperature; viscosity and volatility of contaminants; contamination depth; humidity and oxygenation degree.

• ecological biotechnology, of biorehabilitating the oil contaminated soil;
• maps of the area with residual oils sludge basins;
• identification of new species of microorganisms which can be utilized for the bioremediation of the oil product contaminated soils;
• determination of the external factors which influence the bioremediation efficiency;
• GIS database;
• ecological rehabilitation maps in GIS format;
• presentation manual;
• promotional materials (web page, CD presentation);
• scientific papers for a better presentation of the activity and scientific potential of the country;
• increasing the level of international recognition of the scientific and technological development stage in Romania;
• patent proposal;
• PC7 project proposal.