Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated UAE Soils: Challenges and Advances

Abstract

Biological treatment of crude oil contaminated desert soils was shown to be an effective method when using biopile systems. Because of the poor nutrient and microbial content of the desert soils, bioaugmentation was shown to be essential in the effective treatment of crude oil contaminated desert soils. This investigation has shown the benefits of staged studies involving soil characterization, oil evaporation and bioremediation using engineered biopile systems. Biopile systems were also shown to be superior to landfarming practices that are being phased out in Western countries because of the health hazards associated with them.