About this project:

Sodecon investigated whether microbial degradation of contaminants can be accelerated by targeted soil heating. The technique was tested in the laboratory at two sites: one with petroleum hydrocarbons in soil, and one with butanol and methyl ethyl ketone in both soil and groundwater.

Innovative approach
By raising the temperature to 25-30 °C, a strong stimulation of methanogenic degradation processes was observed. The major advantage of this technique is that only heat needs to be applied – no chemicals or above-ground treatment plants are needed. In addition, heat disperses relatively homogeneously in the subsurface, ensuring efficient stimulation even in less permeable zones.

Results

• Petroleum hydrocarbons degradation was accelerated up to 3 times
• An acceleration by a factor of 2 to 5 was observed for butanol and methyl ethyl ketone
• Biogas production was measured to quantify degradation rate

The technique is particularly suitable for hard-to-reach organic contaminants. In addition, the use of solar panels offers a sustainable way to heat the soil locally.

This innovative approach offers new prospects for the remediation of contaminated sites without heavy infrastructure or complex injection techniques.