ABSTRACT
This chapter presents preliminary results on the biological degradation of a gasification-tar, focusing on the ability of a surfactant to improve the biological removal of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. The mixed culture used in the work was derived from sewage sludge and was developed in two 1-liter fill-and-draw reactors with 750 mL working volumes. The high molecular weight tar components found in the pitch fraction are likely to be highly resistant to aerobic biodegradation. Chemical dispersants have been tested as a means of increasing the rate of degradation of oil spills by increasing the surface area available for microbial attack. Of the remediation options at coal-tar-contaminated sites, on-site treatment is the most desirable since the expense and hazards of transportation off-site are avoided. The carbon dioxide evolution from the residual gas-tar following volatilization was considerably less than from the as-received tar.
