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Use of Chemical Oxidation and Bioremediation for Treating Indiana Harbor Canal Sediment
The Indiana Harbor Canal is a man-made canal that connects Lake Michigan with the Calumet River. It is the recipient of extremely heavy hydrocarbon and steel slag contamination from oil refineries and steel mills dating back to the 19th century. The oil is heavily weathered and is as high as 300 g/kg in concentration in some parts of the canal. Region V has asked for assistance in devising a strategy for cleaning up the harbor. This project attempts to combine chemical oxidation with bioremediation for treating the oil in the sediment. The chemical oxidation being investigated is the use of peroxide, permanganate, and other oxidants to partially oxidize the hydrocarbons so that microorganisms can take over to complete the process. Progress has been slow but steady.
Contact: Albert D. Venosa, USEPA (EIMS#56301)