Bioventing methods create a bacterial treatment zone at a contaminated
site by supplying a hydrocarbon food source to the treatment zone, and
recirculating the hydrocarbon to the treatment zone. The inventing
methods may inject, circulate, extract and reinject hydrocarbons such as
butane or other alkanes to the subsurface at a contaminated site to
create a bacterial treatment zone. Contaminated vapors extracted from the
soil and/or groundwater may be reintroduced into the site. Hydrocarbons
that are not consumed by the bacteria in the treatment zone may be
extracted and recovered for recirculation into the treatment zone.