Cyclodextrines accelerate off-site bioremediation of soils contaminated with mineral oil

Soils contaminated with mineral oil are often excavated and bioremediated off-site by biostimulation and biodegradation. The soils are aerated and supplied with the necessary nutrients to accelerate biodegradation. Ideally, without seriously disturbing the soil, the contaminants are completely mineralized and the soil can be reused. However, for some soils the degradation performance is poor despite the sufficient amount of bacteria, oxygen and nutrients present in the soil. The main factor is the limited bioavailability of the mineral oili. As a result, the environmental permits cannot be achieved within a reasonable time period. The use of additives such as cyclodextrin can enhance the bioavailability of the oil and therefore accelerate degradationii. Cyclodextrin is a (α-1,4)-linked oligosaccharide with both an apolar cavity and polair exterior. They are able to encapsulate mineral oil thereby enhancing the solubility and therefore the bioavailability.