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Oversize material is removed from contaminated soil, and the soil is then homogenized.
A pH buffer, a carbon source, and a consortium of enhanced nitroaromatic-degrading anaerobic bacteria are introduced into the bioreactor. These bacteria can completely degrade nitroaromatic contaminants to nonaromatic, nontoxic products. The technology was demonstrated over a 23 day period during June and July 1993. Comparison of the dinoseb levels before and after treatment showed a reduction of greater than 99.8 percent. Other pesticides were also degraded in the process, highlighting the effectiveness of the process even in the presence of co-contaminants.