SSG Case Study MiddleEast Bench Trail - Case Study
Project name: Middle East Bench Trail – Enzyme Remediation of Soil
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Abstract
In June 2023 SSG Contracts conducted an enzyme remediation bench-scale trial on a heavily contaminated soil sample from the Middle East.
SSG applied a DL-4 Chemsol surfactant and Enzymix using 2 different methods. Method 1 introduced a higher concentration of surfactant which was applied to the enzyme solution and Method 2 used the optimal concentration of surfactant applied to the enzyme solution. The trial treatment was conducted by the team at the lab in Kosice Slovakia. All the soil samples were independently tested by the EL Lab group.
The trial successfully proved the effectiveness of the enzyme solution, with method 1 reducing the Total Petro-Hydrocarbons (TPC) in the soil by 67% in just 2 weeks.
Method 2 reduced the Total Petro-Hydrocarbons (TPC) in the soil by 86% in just 2 weeks, therefore significantly reducing the risk to human health and the environment.
Enzymix technical background
Enzymix is applied to soils that are polluted with hydrocarbons. Enzymix splits raw oil and other oil derivatives by acting as a catalyst and decomposes the contaminant through ionization.
Guldberg-Waage’s law of mass action states that the reaction is either balanced or continues until the number of substrate and product is the same (equimolar):
Enzymix is applied in a liquid form to the solid waste by a variety of mechanisms depending upon the nature, composition and location of the soil or solid waste. Enzymix is applied along with a surfactant DL-4 Chemsol which is in powder form.
Project background
SSG was sent a heavily Petro-Hydrocarbon-contaminated soil sample from the Middle East and tasked to remediate the sample using a bench trial with our enzyme remediation process.
Due to commercial purposes, SSG Contracts were not provided with any information related to the soil sample.
After receiving the sample in June, SSG Contracts commissioned i2 analytical labs to determine the initial Total Petro-Hydrocarbon (TPC) extent of the sample prior to remediation. Testing occurred on the 9th of June 2023.
Solution
Enzymix was used to reduce the TPC content within the soil, The first treatment occurred on the 23rd of June after the baseline sample results were obtained on the 22nd of June from i2 analytical labs.
The soil was treated over 2 weeks between the 23rd of June until the 7th of July. Method 1 had a lower concentration of enzymes but a higher surfactant ratio.
Method 2 had the optimal ratio of surfactant applied to the enymix solution.
Enzymix solution ratio is calculated at 0.3 liters to each m3 of high impacted contaminated soil.
A sample was sent to EL labs for testing on the 7th of July. The results were received on the 12th of July.
Results
The results were recorded for the TPC concentration across time for both Method 1 and Method 2.
Both methods showed a significant reduction in TPC in just 2 weeks of treatment.
Post-treatment samples
Method 1
Method 2
Conclusion
Application of the Enzymix solution significantly reduced the concentration of TPC and contaminants within the soil by 64% in method 1 (7,401 mg/kg) and 86% in method 2 (2,257 mg/kg) within 2 weeks. The Enzymix was also highly effective at breaking down the larger chain hydrocarbons (EC21-EC35) which is likely to be found in oil fields and areas of crude oil.
This further proves the effectiveness of enzyme remediation for use in crude oil contamination under strict time restrictions. Since the trial was carried out on a small scale It would be beneficial to further prove the effectiveness of enzyme remediation on a large-scale on-site pilot project. This would demonstrate the effectiveness of Enzymix and the versatility of both ex-situ and in-situ applications in real-world conditions on-site.
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