Superfund Research Program
Beyond Parent Compound Disappearance in the Bioremediation of PAH-Contaminated Soil
Project Leader: Michael D. Aitken
Grant Number: P42ES005948
Funding Period: 1995-2018
Project-Specific Links
News Items List
-
Using Surfactants to Enhance Bioremediation of PAHs in Soil
Research Brief - February 2017
A second-stage treatment using low levels of surfactants, which are commonly used as dispersing agents, may be a promising method to maximize removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at hazardous waste sites, according to findings from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Superfund Research Program (UNC SRP) Center. Researchers identified specific surfactants that enhanced the removal of PAHs from previously treated soil by making the chemicals more accessible for degradation by bacteria.