Investigation of bioremediation of creosote impregnated wooden railway sleepers

Abstract

Railway sleepers impregnated with creosote or coal tar, contribute to the preservation of more than fifty years. Creosote, a distillation product of coal tar is one of the most widely used wood preservatives in the world. Used wooden sleepers are removed and stored in large quantities or being left in the environment. The Directive on Waste (75/442/EEC), (91/156/EEC), which establishes the EU waste policy, prohibits the uncontrolled waste disposal and requires to dispose waste without danger, noise and odors. The aim of this research is to determine the efficacy of selected basidiomycetes in the removing of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the creosote-contaminated soil. Fungi Pleurotus ostreatus demonstrate positive interaction in creosote biodegradation. Quantity of creosote in treated wood sleepers can be estimated by measuring PAH content, using analytical methods like GC-MS, GC-FID, HPLC.