The project involved optimizing the biodegradation process of heavy hydrocarbons by applying different types of commercial soil improvers/products to increase the bioavailability of contaminants (surfactants) or to provide nutrients and microbial biomass (green composted soil improver and fungal soil improver).

The remediation of hydrocarbon-polluted soils often has limitations such as nutrient shortage, low bioavailability of pollutants (due to the soil’s ability to adsorb hydrocarbons), and the presence of a microbial community with poor degradative capacity or low numbers of microorganisms.

Laboratory testing using mesocosms with a soil volume between 5-15 kg allows the study and the analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of bio-enhancement and biostimulation techniques. Once the factors limiting biological remediation have been identified, laboratory tests can be carried out, in order to evaluate the effect of different bioremediation products on both the removal of pollutants and the possible side effects they may have.