The document summarizes a study on the biodegradation of diesel fuel and surrogate compounds in contaminated soil from a former petroleum distribution site. Incomplete biodegradation was observed, with levels plateauing around 1000 ppm total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). Experiments found that redistributing the petroleum within and between soils did not stimulate further biodegradation. The addition of surrogate compounds, including alkanes and phenanthrene, showed that branched alkanes degraded slowly while phenanthrene degraded more quickly, suggesting inhibition by a soil extract component or composition of non-readily biodegradable materials like branched alkanes.

1. Biodegradation Study of Diesel and Surrogate Compounds of Diesel Todd R. Crawford Crawford Independent Analysts

6. GC-FID trace of diesel fuel