Simultaneous Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation to Remediate Soil Contaminated by Ship Dismantling in Bangkalan District, Indonesia

BACKGROUND. High concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were identified in soil samples from two shipyards where vessel dismantling activities take place in Tanjungjati Village, Indonesia, and subjected to bioremediation. OBJECTIVES. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the combination of surfactant solution, bioaugmentation (a consortium of Bacillus subtilis and Acinetobacter lwoffii), and biostimulation (nutrient amendment and aeration intermittent) would reduce TPH, Fe, and Mn levels from soil contaminated from ship dismantling activities. METHODS. Iron and Mn bioavailability were examined according to the Indonesian technical guidelines for soil chemical analysis with the help of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The n-hexane solvent soil was extracted using the ultrasonic water bath method for TPH analysis. RESULTS. The highest removal results achieved were TPH (69.62%), Fe (87.10%), and Mn (29%) for Soil 1 samples and elimination of TPH (28.80%), Fe (65.10%), and Mn (57.38%) for Soil 2 samples using a combination of surfactant solution, bioaugmentation, and biostimulation (nutrient amendment and without aeration intermittent). Iron and Mn removal in the controls was higher than in the treated soils, which showed that Fe and Mn could decrease naturally in both contaminated soils. CONCLUSIONS. The present study showed that bioremediation using a combination of surfactant solution, a consortium of Bacillus subtilis, and Acinetobacter lwoffii, as well as a nutrient amendment, has the potential to degrade hydrocarbons in contaminated soil. Furthermore, Bacillus subtilis and Acinetobacter lwoffii consortium used for bioaugmentation have the potential to enhance the degradation of hydrocarbons in soil. COMPETING INTERESTS. The authors declare no competing financial interests.