Studies of Oil-Contaminated Soils and Prospective Approaches for Their Remediation

Abstract

The main milestones of the study of oil-contaminated soils at the Faculty of Soil Science of Moscow State University (Russia) in 50 years since its foundation are discussed from the perspective of the development of environmental regulation and new technologies of soil reclamation prospects. The main stages in the development of a procedural framework for the determination of oil and petroleum hydrocarbons in soils and studies of the soil properties and chemistry of oil and its components in soil and adjacent environments are considered. The development of legislation on the rationing of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils is provided. The important role played by the staff of the Faculty of Soil Science in adoption of a number of regional standards for the permissible residual content of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils is noted. The approaches to ecological rationing of oil and petroleum hydrocarbons in soils that take into account natural environments and types of land use are proposed. The importance of improving the regulatory and procedural framework and continuing activities in this direction are emphasized. The necessity of studies aimed at development of reclamation technologies for oil-contaminated lands and special use of oil-contaminated waste is indicated.