Nitric oxide emissions as a surrogate indicator of toluene contaminated soil

Emissions of nitric oxide (NO) as a surrogate indicator of toluene bioremediation from toluene-contaminated soil were measured to correlate NO and toluene contamination relationships. The goal of this study is to obtain a better understanding of the relationships between NO emissions and toluene contamination, which describes the influence of the level of toluene contamination on NO emission from the soil. Laboratory experiments were performed under controlled temperature (22°C) and water-filled pore space (WFPS, 30%) conditions, with varying toluene concentrations (0, 5, 30, 45, and 60 ppm), as well as with variations in the experimental duration (1, 4, 8, and 16 h, 1, 2, 3, and 5 days, and 1 week). The relationships have been analyzed by the comparison of experimental measurements coming from analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis, referring to toluene concentrations (0, 5, 30, 45, and 60 ppm). NO emissions were positively and significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with the level of toluene concentration and duration of toluene contamination. Thus, NO emissions are suggested as a good indicator of the level of toluene in contaminated soils. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Duke Scholars

Author J. Jeffrey Peirce Civil and Environmental Engineering