Development and validation of key environmental factors controlling the biodegradation activity of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils

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Hydrological and geochemical conditions in subsurface environments contaminated by petroleum products areimportant determinants of biogeochemical processes. In particular, identifying the environmental factors thatcontrol the functioning of native microbial communities are key to predict hydrocarbon biodegradation in soilscontaminated with petroleum products. The Ecohydrology Research Group at the University of Waterloo andImperial Oil's ExxonMobil Environmental Services will join forces to build a new and long-term researchcollaboration focusing on the biogeochemical processes that control natural source zone depletion (NSZD) ofpetroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils under relevant hydrological and climatic forcings. The proposedEngage project will quantify the relatives controls of moisture content, oxygen availability and temperature onthe biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils and to assess the in situ bioremediation potential ofhydrocarbons in Canada's cold soil environments. The results will be instrumental in providing guidance to theimplementation of NSZD strategies in support of Imperial Oil's clean-up efforts. This Engage project will laythe foundation for subsequent joint projects that will yield the scientific knowledge needed to enable theimplementation of NSZD by Imperial Oil as an effective, reliable and cost-saving soil remediation technology