Assessments of the efficacy of a long-term application of a phytoremediation system using hybrid poplar trees at former oil tank farm sites

Ahmed S El-Gendy; Sotero Svingos; Donald Brice; Joel H Garretson; Jerald Schnoor

doi:10.2175/106143008X357011

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Assessments of the efficacy of a long-term application of a phytoremediation system using hybrid poplar trees at former oil tank farm sites

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Assessments of the efficacy of a long-term application of a phytoremediation system using hybrid poplar trees at former oil tank farm sites

Ahmed S El-Gendy, Sotero Svingos, Donald Brice, Joel H Garretson and Jerald Schnoor

Water environment research, Vol.81(5), pp.486-498

05/2009

DOI: 10.2175/106143008X357011

PMID: 19472940

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Abstract

A poplar tree-phytoremediation system was installed at former refinery and tank farm sites in Cabin Creek, West Virginia, to cleanup petroleum-contaminated-soils and groundwater. Groundwater and soils in both sites were sampled and analyzed on a regular basis to monitor changes in contaminant concentration since 1999. The concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and gasoline range organics (GRO) decreased an average of 81%, 90%, 67%, 78%, and 82%, respectively, in the lower soil horizons and 34%, 84%, 12%, 19%, and 59%, respectively, in groundwater. In addition, concentrations of oxygen, methane, and carbon dioxide in soil gas demonstrated that tree roots dewatered soils and allowed penetration of oxygen deep into the soil profile, creating necessary conditions for rhizosphere bioremediation. Although required clean-up time can limit phytoremediation, it has proven to be a cost-effective strategy for site improvement if imminent pathways for human exposure and risk are not an issue.

Biodegradation, Environmental

Environmental Monitoring

Plant Roots - metabolism

Petroleum - metabolism

Waste Management - methods

Soil Pollutants - metabolism

Hydrocarbons, Aromatic - metabolism

Time Factors

Populus - metabolism

Water - chemistry

Waste Management - economics

Populus - growth & development

Water Supply

Plant Roots - growth & development

Details

Title: Subtitle: Assessments of the efficacy of a long-term application of a phytoremediation system using hybrid poplar trees at former oil tank farm sites
Creators: Ahmed S El-Gendy - Institute of Environment Studies & Research, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. elgendy03@yahoo.ca
Sotero Svingos
Donald Brice
Joel H Garretson
Jerald Schnoor
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Water environment research, Vol.81(5), pp.486-498
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.2175/106143008X357011
PMID: 19472940
ISSN: 1061-4303
eISSN: 1554-7531
Language: English
Date published: 05/2009
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
Record Identifier: 9983992065302771

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