Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38517632›Full record

ArticleEnvironmental science and pollution research international2025

Bioaugmentation and vermicompost facilitated the hydrocarbon bioremediation: scaling up from lab to field for petroleum-contaminated soils.

Sandra Curiel-Alegre, Aqib Hassan Ali Khan, Carlos Rad, Blanca Velasco-Arroyo, Carlos Rumbo, Rafael Rivilla, David Durán, Miguel Redondo-Nieto, Eduard Borràs, Daniele Molognoni and 3 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Environmental science and pollution research international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Sandra Curiel-AlegreInternational Research Center in Critical Raw Materials for Advanced Industrial Technologies (ICCRAM), University of Burgos, Centro de I+D+I. Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N. 09001, Burgos, Spain.
Aqib Hassan Ali KhanInternational Research Center in Critical Raw Materials for Advanced Industrial Technologies (ICCRAM), University of Burgos, Centro de I+D+I. Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N. 09001, Burgos, Spain.
Carlos RadResearch Group in Composting (UBUCOMP), Faculty of Sciences, University of Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N. 09001, Burgos, Spain.
Blanca Velasco-ArroyoDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N. 09001, Burgos, Spain.
Carlos RumboInternational Research Center in Critical Raw Materials for Advanced Industrial Technologies (ICCRAM), University of Burgos, Centro de I+D+I. Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N. 09001, Burgos, Spain.
Rafael RivillaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Autónoma of Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
David DuránDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Autónoma of Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
Miguel Redondo-NietoDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Autónoma of Madrid, Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
Eduard BorràsCircular Economy & Decarbonization Department, LEITAT Technology Center, Carrer de La Innovació, 2. 08225, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
Daniele MolognoniCircular Economy & Decarbonization Department, LEITAT Technology Center, Carrer de La Innovació, 2. 08225, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
Soledad Martín-CastelloteACCIONA, C/ Valportillo II, 8. 28108, Madrid, Alcobendas, Spain.
Blanca JuezACCIONA, C/ Valportillo II, 8. 28108, Madrid, Alcobendas, Spain.
Rocío BarrosInternational Research Center in Critical Raw Materials for Advanced Industrial Technologies (ICCRAM), University of Burgos, Centro de I+D+I. Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N. 09001, Burgos, Spain. rbarros@ubu.es.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0392-8504
Universidad de Burgos · ESUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid · ESAcciona (Spain) · ESLeitat Technological Center · ES

Funding

European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program 826312Junta de Castilla y León ORDEN EDU /1508/2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in soil is very challenging due to the complex recalcitrant nature of hydrocarbon, hydrophobicity, indigenous microbial adaptation and competition, and harsh environmental conditions. This work further confirmed that limited natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) (15% removal) necessitates efficient bioremediation strategies. Hence, a scaling-up experiment for testing and optimizing the use of biopiles for bioremediation of TPH polluted soils was conducted with three 500-kg pilots of polluted soil, and respective treatments were implemented: including control soil (CT), bioaugmentation and vermicompost treatment (BAVC), and a combined application of BAVC along with bioelectrochemical snorkels (BESBAVC), all maintained at 40% field capacity. This study identified that at pilot scale level, a successful application of BAVC treatment can achieve 90.3% TPH removal after 90 days. BAVC's effectiveness stemmed from synergistic mechanisms. Introduced microbial consortia were capable of TPH degradation, while vermicompost provided essential nutrients, enhanced aeration, and, potentially, acted as a biosorbent. Hence, it can be concluded that the combined application of BAVC significantly enhances TPH removal compared to natural attenuation. While the combined application of a bioelectrochemical snorkel (BES) with BAVC also showed a significant TPH removal, it did not differ statistically from the individual application of BAVC, under applied conditions. Further research is needed to optimize BES integration with BAVC for broader applicability. This study demonstrates BAVC as a scalable and mechanistically sound approach for TPH bioremediation in soil.

Indexed as

HydrocarbonsPetroleumSoil PollutantsBiodegradation, EnvironmentalPetroleum PollutionSoilSoil MicrobiologyHydrocarbonsPetroleumSoilSoil PollutantsBioaugmentationHydrocarbonsMicrobial consortiumPassive bioelectrochemical systemsVermicompost

Identifiers

PMID38517632
PMCPMC12325483
OpenAlexW4393070556

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.