ABSTRACT
Bioventing is the process of supplying air or oxygen to the unsaturated zone to stimulate aerobic biodegradation of a contaminant. Bioventing has been applied for remediation of sites in the form of soil venting. Soils must be sufficiently permeable to allow movement of enough gas to provide adequate oxygen for biodegradation. The biodegradation rates measured by the in-situ respiration test appear to be representative of those for a full-scale bioventing system. Bioventing is potentially applicable to any contaminant that is more readily biodegradable aerobically than anaerobically, such as most petroleum hydrocarbons. Assuming contaminants are present that are amenable to bioventing, gas permeability is probably the most important site characteristic. Bioventing is primarily a vadose zone treatment process. The vadose zone may be extended through dewatering, but contamination below the water table cannot be treated. The bioventing process more rapidly removes benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes compounds than other JP-4 Jet fuel constituents.
