Bioremediation of diesel from a rocky shoreline in an arid tropical climate

• A shoreline became contaminated from a diesel fuel spill.
• The process used surfactant, added available N & P and increased aeration.
• The practical and economical treatment used an non-ionic surfactant to release diesel exposing the hydrocarbon to increased biological and non-biological processes.
• Petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment decreased to less than detection limits after treatment.
• The site was remediated and able to be used to handle mined product at same time.

A non invasive sampling and remediation strategy was developed and implemented at shoreline contaminated with spilt diesel. To treat the contamination, in a practical, cost-effective, and safe manner (to personnel working on the stockpiles and their ship loading activity), a non-invasive sampling and remediation strategy was designed and implemented since the location and nature of the impacted geology (rock fill) and sediment, precluded conventional ex-situ and any in-situ treatment where drilling is required. A bioremediation process using surfactant, and added N & P and increased aeration, increased the degradation rate allowing the site owner to meet their regulatory obligations. Petroleum hydrocarbons decreased from saturation concentrations to less than detectable amounts at the completion of treatment.