Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2016-08-08T13:35:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcio Felix Sobral.pdf: 332271 bytes, checksum: f4e990500f2f96ca2348f020149fdc86 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-08T13:35:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcio Felix Sobral.pdf: 332271 bytes, checksum: f4e990500f2f96ca2348f020149fdc86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-08 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Several types of slag accumulate in industry and become an environmental problem. Its final disposal as fertilizer in agriculture is a practice that can supply plant nutrients and to correct soil acidity while minimizing the environmental impact. However, there is the need for evaluating the risks of slag addition contaminate soils with heavy metals. The work was carried out to study the effects of the final disposal of a steel slag compared to lime on the supply of silicon, macronutrients (Ca, Mg and P), micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Ni) and heavy metals (Cd and Pb) to sugarcane plants grown on an Ultisol. The steel slag and lime doses (0; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0, and 4.0 t ha-1) were applied to the sugarcane at the planting (cultivar RB92579). The results showed that the steel slag increased the concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, Si, Fe, Mn and Zn in soil and reduced the potential acidity. There was an increase in the foliar área and stems height as well as in the Zn concentration in the leaves. Lime promoted increase of pH, and decrease in the concentrations of Al and incrase in the Na concentrations. Nickel,Cd, and Pb were not detected neither in the soil nor in the plant. This indicates that the steel slag tested presented no soil contamination with these heavy metals. / O desenvolvimento da siderurgia no Brasil produz diversos tipos de escórias, as quais muitas vezes se acumulam nos pátios das industrias tornando-se um problema ambiental. Sua disposição final em campos agrícolas é uma prática que pode minimizar a acumulação destes resíduos e ao mesmo tempo fornecer nutrientes às plantas e corrigir a acidez dos solos. No entanto, há necessidade de avaliar quais riscos estes resíduos podem gerar ao ambiente. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar à disposição final da escória de aciaria de forno elétrico e o fornecimento de Si, nutrientes (Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni) e metais pesados (Cd e Pb) para cana-de-açúcar. O experimento foi realizado na Usina Santa Teresa, município de Goiana-PE, em um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo. Os tratamentos adotados foram doses de escória de aciaria e calcário dolomítico (0; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 40 t ha-1), aplicados no sulco de plantio, no qual posteriormente, foi semeado a cana-de-açúcar (var. RB92579). Ao término doexperimento, foram realizadas as avaliações do solo, planta e parâmetros industriais. A escória bem como o calcário promoveram alterações nas propriedades químicas do solo e em algumas variáveis analisadas na planta. A escória aumentou significativamente (P 0,05) nos teores de Ca, Mg, P, Si, Fe, Mn e Zn, no solo, bem como reduziu a acidez potencial. Quanto às características industriais aumentou a área foliar e altura dos colmos, bem como, o teor de Zn nas folhas. O Calcário proporcionou aumento do pH, reduziu o teor de Al e aumentou o teor de Na no solo. Houve ainda acréscimo nos teores de Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn e redução da acidez potencial. Proporcionou também um teor significativo de Cu nas folhas de cana-de-açúcar. Não foi detectado nas análises de folhas de cana-de-açúcar e do solo a presença de Ni, Cd ou Pb, indicando que a utilização de escória de aciaria não causou problemas de contaminação.

Contaminated land is a widespread, global issue affecting millions of people. Atrazine is a commonly used herbicide which often contaminates groundwater and drinking water supplies and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Biochar is the solid product of pyrolysis and is associated with several environmental benefits. It may be an effective remediation tool when used as a soil amendment. This thesis investigates the mechanisms through which biochar can immobilise atrazine, and the implications of the mechanisms for remediating contaminated land. Nine biochar samples were obtained from the United Kingdom Biochar Research Centre , which were produced from softwood pellets (SWP), wheat straw pellets (WSP), miscanthus straw pellets (MSP), rice husk (RH) and oil seed rape (OSR) each at pyrolysis temperatures of 550°C and 700°C (excluding OSR at 700°C). The sorption mechanisms controlling atrazine sorption to these biochars were determined through various characterisation methods and batch sorption experiments. The sorption tests showed that sorption to each of the standard biochars occurs via multiple simultaneously occurring mechanisms, which are each promoted under certain conditions. Studies investigating sorption kinetics, isotherms and interactions with humic acids showed that for all biochars in this study, pore filling was a significant process through which atrazine is transported to adsorption sites, although poor intraparticle diffusion for softwood and oil seed rape biochars can prevent efficient transport. Wheat straw and rice husk biochars showed effective pore diffusion, resulting in high sorption capacities. Partitioning was associated with poor remediation outcomes and was significant to softwood biochars, although adsorption dominated overall sorption for all other biochars. pH was shown to significantly influence the occurrence of various sorption mechanisms. At low pH values, most biochars showed evidence of electrostatic repulsion between positive atrazine species and the positively charged biochar surface. At intermediate pH values, all biochars showed strong hydrogen bonding between H+ groups on the surface of the biochar and atrazine. A meta-analysis of previous relevant studies provided further evidence for hydrogen bonding of atrazine to biochar and showed that hydrophobic effects likely play little role in adsorption after accounting for the effects of surface area. Varying contributions of π-π EDA interactions, hydrogen bonding involving biochar O- groups, and interactions with ash minerals resulted in different sorption profiles for each biochar at high pH values. In order to further determine the mechanisms controlling sorption at high pH, surface compositions of SWP550, RH700 and OSR550 biochars were modified using hydrofluoric acid. Modification with hydrofluoric acid successfully removed the ash contents of rice husk and oil seed rape biochars and reduced atrazine removal at high pH values. This suggested that the ash fraction increases atrazine removal at high pH through complexation or catalytic hydrolysis. The roles of the various mechanisms are related to remediation outcomes in a novel manner allowing for the improved design of biochar for environmental remediation.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Adriana Maria Meneghetti.pdf: 3131022 bytes, checksum: d00518472aafe060eefb8d778a79b588 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-25 / The application of swine wastewater in soils characterized as an efficient way to reduce fertilizer use and alternative destination for the waste. However, applications are not always made at the right time, in an amount that it considers its composition and also the needs of crops, which could result in contamination levels of soil, water and plant. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic and environmental aspects of the use of swine wastewater and chemical fertilizer in the cultivation of corn (Zea mays L.) under conditions of drainage lysimeters for no tillage in the sixth cycle of cultivation. For this experiment was conducted in 24 drainage lysimeters, at Western Paraná State University´s Agricultural Engineering Experimental Nucleus, which soil was classified as Distroferic Red Latosoil, where they were applied prior to sowing four layers of swine wastewater (ARS), (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 N) and two levels of mineral fertilizer (AD), (0 and 40 kg ha-1) as urea at sowing as well as coverage. At the time occurrence of precipitation the leachate were collected for analysis of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) and at the beginning, middle and end the cycle, samples for determination of pH, EC, Ca, Mg, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, N and N-NO3-. Also during the study, three collections were made at different times of soil before sowing and application of ARS, middle and end of the cycle for pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), saturation of bases (V%), sum of bases (SB), organic matter, potential acidity (H + Aℓ+3), P , N, N-NO3-, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Na. And yet the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) were calculated for material and soil leachate, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) to the ground. To determine the nutrient levels at the beginning of silking, leaf samples were collected from corn for later analysis of nutrients: total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and Na. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) in factorial 4 x 2 (four doses of ARS and two doses of AD) with three replications. Means were compared by Tukey test at 5% significance level, and growth data and leaf nutrient content submitted to regression analysis. The combined effect of ARS with AD, promote changes in soil properties: H + Aℓ +3, CEC, V%, P, K, Ca, Mg, NO3-, Cu, Zn and Na. In the material in the leachate pH, EC and Mg. On the levels of macro and micronutrients foliar these had values of P, Ca, Mg and S above the recommended N and K were below, whereas micronutrients are adequate. The higher doses favored higher results for plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, number of leaves per plant, absolute growth rate, on eating disorders and productivity data. / A aplicação de águas residuárias de suinocultura em solos caracteriza-se como maneira eficiente de redução do uso de fertilizantes, além de ser alternativa para destino do resíduo. Porém, nem sempre as aplicações são feitas no momento adequado, em quantidade que considera a sua composição e as necessidades das culturas. Tal fato poderá resultar em níveis de contaminação de solo, água e planta. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar os aspectos agronômicos e ambientais da utilização da água residuária de suinocultura e adubação química na cultura do minimilho (Zea mays L.), em condições de lisímetros de drenagem em sistema plantio direto no sexto ciclo de cultivo. Para isso foi conduzido experimento em 24 lisímetros de drenagem, no Núcleo Experimental de Engenharia Agrícola da UNIOESTE, em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico, no qual foram aplicadas, anteriormente à semeadura, quatro lâminas de águas residuárias de suinocultura (ARS), (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1 de N), e dois níveis de adubação química mineral (AD), (0 e 40 kg ha-1), na forma de uréia na semeadura e também como cobertura. No momento da ocorrência de precipitações coletaram-se amostras do percolado para análise de pH e condutividade elétrica (CE) e, no início, meio e final do ciclo da cultura, amostras para determinação do pH, CE, Ca, Mg, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ntotal e N-NO3-. Ainda durante a realização do estudo, foram feitas três coletas de solo em momentos distintos: antes da semeadura e aplicação da ARS, e no meio e final do ciclo, para determinação de pH, capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC), saturação por bases (V%), somas das bases, matéria orgânica, acidez potencial (H + Aℓ+3), P, Ntotal, N-NO3-, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn e Na. Além disso, foram calculadas a razão de adsorção de sódio (RAS) para material percolado e solo e a porcentagem de sódio trocável (PST) para solo. Para a determinação de níveis de nutrientes no início do embonecamento, foram coletadas amostras da folha de minimilho para posterior análise de nutrientes: Ntotal, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe e Na. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC) em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 (quatro doses de ARS e duas doses de AD), com três repetições. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de significância. Os dados de crescimento e os teores de nutrientes foliares, foram submetidos à análise de regressão. O efeito da ARS, combinado com AD, promoveu alterações nos atributos do solo: acidez potencial, CTC, V%, P, K, Ca, Mg, NO3-, Cu, Zn e Na. No material percolado no pH, CE e Mg. Sobre os teores de macro e micronutrientes foliares, observou-se que estes apresentaram valores de P, Ca, Mg e S acima dos recomendados, N e K, estiveram abaixo, enquanto que os micronutrientes apresentaram-se adequados. As maiores dosagens favoreceram maiores resultados para estatura da planta, área foliar, índice de área foliar, número de folhas por planta, taxa de crescimento absoluto e agiram também sobre os dados de produtividade.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Adriana Maria Meneghetti.pdf: 3131022 bytes, checksum: d00518472aafe060eefb8d778a79b588 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-25 / The application of swine wastewater in soils characterized as an efficient way to reduce fertilizer use and alternative destination for the waste. However, applications are not always made at the right time, in an amount that it considers its composition and also the needs of crops, which could result in contamination levels of soil, water and plant. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic and environmental aspects of the use of swine wastewater and chemical fertilizer in the cultivation of corn (Zea mays L.) under conditions of drainage lysimeters for no tillage in the sixth cycle of cultivation. For this experiment was conducted in 24 drainage lysimeters, at Western Paraná State University´s Agricultural Engineering Experimental Nucleus, which soil was classified as Distroferic Red Latosoil, where they were applied prior to sowing four layers of swine wastewater (ARS), (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 N) and two levels of mineral fertilizer (AD), (0 and 40 kg ha-1) as urea at sowing as well as coverage. At the time occurrence of precipitation the leachate were collected for analysis of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) and at the beginning, middle and end the cycle, samples for determination of pH, EC, Ca, Mg, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, N and N-NO3-. Also during the study, three collections were made at different times of soil before sowing and application of ARS, middle and end of the cycle for pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), saturation of bases (V%), sum of bases (SB), organic matter, potential acidity (H + Aℓ+3), P , N, N-NO3-, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Na. And yet the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) were calculated for material and soil leachate, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) to the ground. To determine the nutrient levels at the beginning of silking, leaf samples were collected from corn for later analysis of nutrients: total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and Na. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) in factorial 4 x 2 (four doses of ARS and two doses of AD) with three replications. Means were compared by Tukey test at 5% significance level, and growth data and leaf nutrient content submitted to regression analysis. The combined effect of ARS with AD, promote changes in soil properties: H + Aℓ +3, CEC, V%, P, K, Ca, Mg, NO3-, Cu, Zn and Na. In the material in the leachate pH, EC and Mg. On the levels of macro and micronutrients foliar these had values of P, Ca, Mg and S above the recommended N and K were below, whereas micronutrients are adequate. The higher doses favored higher results for plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, number of leaves per plant, absolute growth rate, on eating disorders and productivity data. / A aplicação de águas residuárias de suinocultura em solos caracteriza-se como maneira eficiente de redução do uso de fertilizantes, além de ser alternativa para destino do resíduo. Porém, nem sempre as aplicações são feitas no momento adequado, em quantidade que considera a sua composição e as necessidades das culturas. Tal fato poderá resultar em níveis de contaminação de solo, água e planta. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar os aspectos agronômicos e ambientais da utilização da água residuária de suinocultura e adubação química na cultura do minimilho (Zea mays L.), em condições de lisímetros de drenagem em sistema plantio direto no sexto ciclo de cultivo. Para isso foi conduzido experimento em 24 lisímetros de drenagem, no Núcleo Experimental de Engenharia Agrícola da UNIOESTE, em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico, no qual foram aplicadas, anteriormente à semeadura, quatro lâminas de águas residuárias de suinocultura (ARS), (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1 de N), e dois níveis de adubação química mineral (AD), (0 e 40 kg ha-1), na forma de uréia na semeadura e também como cobertura. No momento da ocorrência de precipitações coletaram-se amostras do percolado para análise de pH e condutividade elétrica (CE) e, no início, meio e final do ciclo da cultura, amostras para determinação do pH, CE, Ca, Mg, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ntotal e N-NO3-. Ainda durante a realização do estudo, foram feitas três coletas de solo em momentos distintos: antes da semeadura e aplicação da ARS, e no meio e final do ciclo, para determinação de pH, capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC), saturação por bases (V%), somas das bases, matéria orgânica, acidez potencial (H + Aℓ+3), P, Ntotal, N-NO3-, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn e Na. Além disso, foram calculadas a razão de adsorção de sódio (RAS) para material percolado e solo e a porcentagem de sódio trocável (PST) para solo. Para a determinação de níveis de nutrientes no início do embonecamento, foram coletadas amostras da folha de minimilho para posterior análise de nutrientes: Ntotal, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe e Na. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC) em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 (quatro doses de ARS e duas doses de AD), com três repetições. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de significância. Os dados de crescimento e os teores de nutrientes foliares, foram submetidos à análise de regressão. O efeito da ARS, combinado com AD, promoveu alterações nos atributos do solo: acidez potencial, CTC, V%, P, K, Ca, Mg, NO3-, Cu, Zn e Na. No material percolado no pH, CE e Mg. Sobre os teores de macro e micronutrientes foliares, observou-se que estes apresentaram valores de P, Ca, Mg e S acima dos recomendados, N e K, estiveram abaixo, enquanto que os micronutrientes apresentaram-se adequados. As maiores dosagens favoreceram maiores resultados para estatura da planta, área foliar, índice de área foliar, número de folhas por planta, taxa de crescimento absoluto e agiram também sobre os dados de produtividade.

<p>U okviru ovog istraživanja ispitani su: (1) Procesi koji se odvijaju prilikom &nbsp;bioremedijacije zemlji&scaron;ta zagađenog naftom i derivatima nafte, koje je bilo izloženo&nbsp;spontanim abiotičkim i biotičkim procesima degradacije u toku 8 godina, tehnikama&nbsp;biogomila i povr&scaron;inske obrade na poluindustrijskoj (pilot) skali uz optimizaciju&nbsp;tehnolo&scaron;kih parametara sa ciljem povećanja efikasnosti i efektivnosti biodegradacije&nbsp;ugljovodonika; (2) Uticaj starenja, koncentracije, biodsotupnosti i strukture zagađujućih&nbsp;materija na procese biodegradacije i biotransformacije u kontrolisanim laboratorijskim&nbsp;uslovima. Tokom dve godine bioremedijacionog tretmana sadržaj mineralnih ulja opao&nbsp;je za 52% (od 27,8 g/kg do 13,2 g/kg) i 53% (od &nbsp;23,2 g/kg do 10,8 g/kg), dok je sadržaj&nbsp;ukupnih ugljovodonika opao za 43% (od 41,4 g/kg do 23,4 g/kg) i 27% (od 35,3 g/kg do&nbsp;25,8 g/kg) u biogomili i povr&scaron;inskoj obradi respektivno. Efikasnost uklanjanja&nbsp;mineralnih ulja iz zemlji&scaron;ta u dva posmatrana bioremedijaciona tretmana je praktično&nbsp;ista. Međutim, u pogledu sadržaja ukupnih ugljovodonika u biogomili uklonjeno je dva&nbsp;puta vi&scaron;e ukupnih ugljovodonika (gledajući &nbsp;apsolutnu količinu ukupno uklonjenih&nbsp;ugljovodonika). Kinetika biodegradacije mineralnih ulja i ukupnih ugljovodonika u toku&nbsp;tretmana u biogomili u saglasnosti je sa kinetičkim modelima lnC=lnC_0-kt i lnC=lnC_0-kt^0,5. Kinetika biodegradacije mineralnih ulja u toku povr&scaron;inske obrade relativno se&nbsp;dobro može opisati sa dva pomenuta kinetička modela, međutim, znatno bolju&nbsp;korelaciju pokazao je linearni model (C=C_0-kt) primenjen na prvih 92 i poslednjih 200&nbsp;dana eksperimenta. Promena sadržaja ukupnih ugljovodonika u toku povr&scaron;inske obrade&nbsp;zagađenog zemlji&scaron;ta relativno je u dobroj korelaciji samo sa kinetičkim modelom&nbsp;lnC=lnC_0-kt^0,5. Laboratorijska ispitivanja pokazala su da biodegradabilnost i sudbina&nbsp;ugljovodonika u životnoj sredini jako zavise od tipa, starosti i koncentracije zagađujućih&nbsp;materija. Naime, u slučaju zemlji&scaron;ta sveže kontaminiranog dizel uljem, već pri&nbsp;<br />koncentracijama od 20 mg/g uočen toksičan efekat koji je prevaziđen nakon dve nedelje&nbsp;tretmana kao posledica smenjenja prekomerne koncentracije rastvorenih ugljovodonika&nbsp;biotičkim i abiotičkim putem i adaptacije prisutne mikroflore. U slučaju većih&nbsp;koncentracija ovaj efekat je bio jo&scaron; izraženiji. Kod zemlji&scaron;ta kontaminiranog sirovom&nbsp;naftom isti efekat se javlja tek pri koncentraciji od 35 mg/g, kao posledica toga da&nbsp;sirova nafta sadrži manju količinu lako rastvornih ugljovodonika. Za razliku od sveže&nbsp;kontaminiranog zemlji&scaron;ta, na biodegradaciju starog naftnog zagađanja u zemlji&scaron;tu&nbsp;koncentracija nije imala uticaj, u ovakvom zemlji&scaron;tu respiracija je bila na veoma niskom&nbsp;nivou pri svim ispitivanim koncentracijama, ali ne kao posledica toksičnosti, već kao&nbsp;posledica činjenice da se degradabilni deo zagađujućih materija degradirao tokom&nbsp;procesa starenja, tako da su u zemlji&scaron;tu zaostali visokomolekularni &nbsp;te&scaron;ko rastvorni&nbsp;ugljovodonici (smole, asfaltne komponente i dr.) sekvestrovani u zemlji&scaron;tu. Merenja biodostupnosti ugljovodonika (ekstrakcijom sa Tween80) pokazala &nbsp;su da je u zemlji&scaron;tu sveže kontaminiranom dizel uljem i sirovom naftom i starim naftnim zagađenjem oko 95%, 85% i 40% ugljovodonika biodostupno, respektivno. Koncentracija rezidualne frakcije mineralnih ulja i ukupnih ugljovodonika dobijena nakon 48 dana laboratorijskog tretmana u skoro svim probama je veća od predviđenih, &scaron;to je posledica bifaznog pona&scaron;anja ugljovodonika u zemlji&scaron;tu, gde se jedan deo uklanja biodegradacijom, dok drugi deo difunduje u pore zemlji&scaron;ta i kompleksira se sa zemlji&scaron;nom organskom materijom. Količina ugljovodonika iz starog naftnog zagađenja zemlji&scaron;ta koja može da pređe u vodenu fazu je mala reda veličine nekoliko mg/l, međutim, u prirodnim uslovima usled spiranja ugljovodonika sa zemlji&scaron;ta ki&scaron;om, postoji verovatnoća da ovi ugljovodonici dospeju u podzemnu vodu iznad maksimalno dozvoljene koncentracije za vodu za piće (MDK = 10 &mu;g/l) i na taj način degradiraju njen kvalitet. Zbog nemogućnosti daljag uklanjanja zagađenja bioremedijacijom, preostala količina zagađujućih materija koja može dospeti u vodenu fazu bi trebalo da se ukloni nekim drugim remedijacionim tehnikama pre njegovog konačnog bezbednog odlaganja u životnu sredinu.</p> / <p>The aims of this study were to examine: (1) the processes that occur during bioremediation of soil contaminated by oil and oil derivatives, which was exposed to spontaneous abiotic and biotic degradation processes over 8 years, using pilot scale biopiles and landfarming techniques to optimise technological parameters with the aim of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of hydrocarbons biodegradation. (2) the effect of contaminants weathering, concentration, bioavailability and structure on the biodegradation and biotransformation process under controlled laboratory conditions. Over the two years of bioremediation treatment by biopiles and landfarming, the mineral oil content decreased by 52% (from 27.8 g/kg to 13.2 g/kg) and 53% (from 23.2 g/kg to 10.8 g/kg),&nbsp; and the total hydrocarbon content decreased by 43% (from 41.4 g/kg to 23.4 g/kg) and 27% (from 35.3 g/kg to 25.8 g/kg), respectively. The efficiency of mineral oil removal from soil in these two applied bioremediation treatments was practically the same. However, in terms ofthe absolute amount of total hydrocarbons, twice as many total hydrocarbons were removed in the biopile. The mineral oil and total hydrocarbons biodegradation kinetics in the biopile were in good agreement with&nbsp; the kinetic models lnC = lnC0-kt and lnC = lnC0-kt0.5. The mineral oil biodegradation&nbsp;kinetics during the landfarming treatment is relatively well described with those two kinetic models, however, significantly better correlation is obtained by the linear model (C = C0-kt) applied to the first 92 and last 200 days of the experiment. The change in total hydrocarbons content during the landfarming treatment is in relatively good correlation only with the kinetic model lnC = lnC-kt0.5. The laboratory biodegradation investigation showed that hydrocarbon biodegradability and its fate in the environment strongly depend upon the structure, concentration and weathering of the hydrocarbons. Thus, in the case of diesel contaminated soil, as a consequence of&nbsp; its structure, i.e. the presence in a higher concentration of the soluble and toxic midrange n-alkanes, a toxic effect is detected at a diesel oil concentration of 20 mg/g, although this effect is overcome after two weeks, as a consequence of the decreasing&nbsp; concentration of soluble hydrocarbons in biotic and abiotic processes and microbial adaptation. This effect was more pronounced in the case of the soil withthe highest diesel oil concentration. In crude oil contaminated soil, a toxic effect was observed at a much higher hydrocarbon concentration (35 mg/g) than in the diesel oil contaminated soil, which corresponds to the fact that crude oil contains significantly less soluble hydrocarbon. In contrast to these two freshly contaminated soils, the weathered contaminated soil contaminant concentration did not have an effect on hydrocarbon biodegradation, with biodegradation in this soil actually at a low level at all concentrations, not as a consequence of toxicity, but because the degradable part of the contaminant was already degraded during the weathering process, leaving behind only highly condensed hydrophobic organic contaminants (asphaltenes, resins, etc.) sequestered in the soil. The data obtained for hydrocarbons bioavailability (by Tween80 extraction) showed that the bioavailable hydrocarbon fraction from soils freshly contaminated with diesel oil and crude and weathered oil contamination were approximately 95%, 85% and 40%, respectively. The concentration of residual mineral oil fractions and total hydrocarbons obtained after 48 days of laboratory biodegradability treatment in almost all batches was greater than predicted, as a result of the biphasic behaviour of hydrocarbons in the soil, where some were degraded or lost from the soil and some transformed into the recalcitrant fraction. The amount of hydrocarbons from the weathered soil contamination that can be transferred into the water phase is small, of the order of a few mg/l in magnitude, however, under natural conditions, due to hydrocarbons leaching by rainfall, it is possible that these hydrocarbons infiltrate groundwater above&nbsp; the maximum permissible concentration for drinking water (MAC = 10 &mu;g/l) and thus degrade its quality. As it is not possible to achieve further contamination degradation by bioremediation, the remaining amount of pollutants which can be transferred into the water phase should be removed by some other remediation techniques before its final safe disposal in the environment.</p>