PAH remove by an innovative technology: Bio2Remediation applied in Venice lagoon.

The Lagoon of Venice is a transitional environment which has suffered an heavy impact of industrial, agricultural and urban pollution during the last century. In this work 16 PAHs were measured (by GC-MS) in 3 sediment samples collected along the Arsenale Vecchio in Venice Lagoon before and after application of innovative in situ remediation treatment of sediments, called BIO2REMEDIATION. The forced aeration consists in the introduction of a great quantitative of oxygen at the superficial sediment-water column interface with the aim of: -stimulating the growing of aerobic bacterial communities by supplying them with oxygen (electron acceptor for aerobic metabolism), (bioremediation) - creating an adapt environment for the biodegradation of inorganic and organic pollutants. Analytical results show that the average concentrations of the PAHs measured in the site A –out of Test Area- is 2879,81 ng*g-1d.w before aeration and 22917,11 ng*g-1 d.w. after aeration; in the core B is 2119,88 ng*g-1 d.w. before aeration and 1344,51 ng*g-1d.w. after aeration, in the site C before aeration the average concentration is 3675,79 ng*g-1d.w. and after aeration is 1519,07ng*g-1d.w. Of particular interest are the results of the core B and C. In this sites PAHs concentration decreases after aeration, “i.e” aeration involves PAHs transformation and oxygen presence facilitates the reduction of their content.