Method and system for bioremediation of contaminated soil using

Abstract

A system for in-situ bioremediation of contaminated soil and ground water wherein porous inorganic support spheres such as diatomaceous earth pellets are treated by inoculation with selected non-pathogenic microbes, ie. bacteria, for destroying or converting the contaminate. The contaminates may be hydrocarbons, sulphides, cyanides, nitrates, heavy metals and other chemicals. The porous cells of the diatomaceous earth pellets provide a home not only for the microbes but also for oxygen, water and other nutrients to help sustain the life of the augmented colonies of microbes introduced in the pellets. The contaminated soil is prepared for treatment by creating fractures and fissures therein using fluid pressure introduced through spaced apart holes drilled to selected depths. The depth of the drilled holes and the hole spacing will depend on the area of contamination. The diatomaceous earth pellets, with microbes stored therein, are then injected into the spaces of the fractures and fissures using air or liquid pressure. The diatomaceous earth pellets may range in size from 0.1 to 1.0 microns or larger. When the inoculated pellets are in place, the microbes have a permanent home to receive contaminates and to work from in destroying the contaminates. The drilled holes may also be retrofited with perforated pipe for supplementing the microbes with additional oxygen, water and nutrients or adding more pellets with microbes therein for completing the clean up of the contaminated soil and ground water.