COMBINATION OF BIOAUGMENTATION AND BIOSTIMULATION AS AN OIL-DRILLING MUD CONTAMINATED SOIL BIOREMEDIATION TREATMENT

The removal of oil-drilling mud contaminated soil generated from oilfields in the Algerian Sahara by bioaugmentation with Yarrowia lipolytica and biostimulation with carrot peel waste amendment during 45 days was investigated. Initially, the evaluation of growth and gasoil degrading ability of Yarrowia lipolytica in carrot peel waste, and carob kibbles media were compared. Afterwards, the effect of bioaugmentation and organic amendment on oil-drilling mud contaminated soil was studied for 45 days of study period. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was measured by distillation using distiller mud. The results indicated that, higher augmentation in growth was observed in carrot peel waste medium and when the concentration of gasoil was increased from 15% to 30%. TPH decreased to 35 +/- 1.66% and 30.60 +/- 1.50% the first 15 days, 33 +/- 2.30% and 26.8 +/- 1.66%, respectively at the end of study. TPH rate did not undergo any significant change from its initial value in the control for the entire period of incubation. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of co-application of bioaugmentation with Yarrowia lipolytica and biostimulation with carrot peel waste amendment for bioremediation of oil-drilling mud contaminated sites.