Bioremediation of creosote-treated wood waste

Abstract

Currently, creosote-treated wood waste is mainly landfilled but the Province of Nova Scotia would prefer to see the waste converted to a valuable product. Bioremediation provides a treatment option for creosote-treated wood waste and the production of a value-added product that would have economic and environmental benefits. Composting technique can be used to degrade the contaminants and convert wood waste into humus and nutrients rich product and reduces the waste volume. The aim of this study was, therefore, to test the efficiency of the composting process in degrading the creosote in the contaminated wood waste. A laboratory scale bioremediation process was carried out in three specially designed in-vessel bioreactors equipped with thermo-insulating outer layer, mixing units, controlled aeration units, thermocouples a data logger and a computer. The three bioreactors were used as replicates. The ability of three thermophilic and cellulolytic microorganisms (T. curvata, T. aurantiacus and T. fusca) to degrade lignocellulose substrate was tested.