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

受石油产品污染的地下环境中的水文和地球化学条件是生物地球化学过程的重要决定因素。特别是，确定控制本地微生物群落功能的环境因素是预测受石油产品污染的土壤中碳氢化合物生物降解的关键。滑铁卢大学的生态水文学研究小组和帝国石油公司的埃克森美孚环境服务公司将联手建立一个新的长期研究合作伙伴关系，专注于在相关水文和气候压力下控制受污染土壤中石油碳氢化合物自然源区枯竭(NSZD)的生物地球化学过程。拟议的Engage项目将量化土壤中水分、氧气有效性和温度对石油碳氢化合物生物降解的相关控制，并评估加拿大寒冷土壤环境中碳氢化合物的原位生物修复潜力。研究结果将有助于指导NSZD战略的实施，以支持帝国石油的清理工作。该Engage项目将为后续的联合项目奠定基础，这些项目将产生所需的科学知识，使帝国石油公司能够实施NSZD作为一种有效、可靠和节省成本的土壤修复技术

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