title: Kinetic modelling of a diesel-polluted clayey soil bioremediation process.
abstract: A mathematical model is proposed to describe a diesel-polluted clayey soil bioremediation process. The reaction system under study was considered a completely mixed closed batch reactor, which initially contacted a soil matrix polluted with diesel hydrocarbons, an aqueous liquid-specific culture medium and a microbial inoculation. The model coupled the mass transfer phenomena and the distribution of hydrocarbons among four phases (solid, S; water, A; non-aqueous liquid, NAPL; and air, V) with Monod kinetics. In the first step, the model simulating abiotic conditions was used to estimate only the mass transfer coefficients. In the second step, the model including both mass transfer and biodegradation phenomena was used to estimate the biological kinetic and stoichiometric parameters. In both situations, the model predictions were validated with experimental data that corresponded to previous research by the same authors. A correct fit between the model predictions and the experimental data was observed because the modelling curves captured the major trends for the diesel distribution in each phase. The model parameters were compared to different previously reported values found in the literature. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to show the reproducibility level of the model.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technology (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Engracia Lacasa
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technology (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena Moliterni
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Hydrogen Research, C/Fernando el Santo, 13500 Puertollano, Spain.
authors.forename: Lourdes Rodríguez
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technology (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain. Electronic address: jose.villasenor@uclm.es.
authors.forename: José Villaseñor
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Camacho
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D000077215:Clay; D005742:Gasoline / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D005742:Gasoline; D012987:Soil; D000077215:Clay
keywords: Bioremediation; Hydrocarbon; Kinetic; Modelling; Soil