Removal by sorption and in situ biodegradation of oil spills limits damage to marine biota: a laboratory simulation.

This study examined the efficiency of cotton grass fibers in removing diesel oil from the surface of water in conditions prevailing in the Baltic Sea. The effect of low temperature, salinity, and bacterial amendments were tested in laboratory-scale set-ups, whereas 600-L mesocosms filled with Baltic Sea water were used for testing the effects of diesel oil and rapid removal of the oil on microorganisms, phytoplankton, and mussels. Cotton grass proved to be an excellent sorbent for diesel oil from the water surface at a low temperature.

Electrokinetically enhanced bioremediation of creosote-contaminated soil: laboratory and field studies.

Creosote is a toxic and carcinogenic substance used in wood impregnation. Approximately 1,200 sites in Finland are contaminated with creosote. This study examined the possibility of enhancing bioremediation of creosote-contaminated soil with a combination of electric heating and infiltration and electrokinetic introduction of oxygenated, nutrient-rich liquid.

Mobilisation of bacteria in soils by electro-osmosis.

A prerequisite for effective bioremediation of contaminated soil is the presence of microorganisms able to degrade the contaminants. If such microorganisms are absent initially, dissemination of bacteria and nutrients becomes necessary; this is a challenge, especially in dense soils. We studied the feasibility of disseminating bacteria by electro-osmosis in three different soil types; garden soil, fine sand, and clay.