PRELIMINARY DATA REGARDING BIOREMEDIATION OF SOILS POLLUTED WITH PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS BY USING CYCLODEXTRINS

Abstract

The main characteristics of the pollution caused by refineries and petrochemical plants is that the source of pollution is active, most of the time, for a short period of time, but has an important intensity, the pollutiong agent being usualy made up of limited pretoleum fractions. Also, in most of tha cases of accidental spills of petroleum products, the affected soil surface is much smaller than the contaminated surface of the first aquifer encountered by the pollution front. The crude oil resulting from the extraction, having a complex composition, acts on the soil depending on the amount, composition and properties of the organic and inorganic components contained. β-Cyclodextrin is a chemical substance with the molecular formula C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅. Cyclodextrins were the first compounds studied in terms of complexation behaviour and catalytic properties, the objective being to mimic enzymes. The paper presents data concerning the soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics and chemical characteristics of crude oil that will be used in the Greenhouse experiment. Also, in the paper is achieved the state of the art for β-cyclodextrins used in bioremediation of soils polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons.