Remediation of contaminates including low bioavailability hydrocarbons

A method of treatment of a contaminate contaminated with an organic compound, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a contaminate, wherein the contaminate is contaminated with an organic compound;
• (b) treating the contaminate with a chemical oxidation step, wherein the chemical oxidation step comprises:
• contacting the contaminate with a transition metal in soluble form;
• and an isolated chelator of the transition metal, wherein the chelator of the transition metal and the transition metal form a transition metal:chelator complex;
• and an oxidizing agent that provides a reactive free radical in the presence of the transition metal:chelator complex;
• and a buffering salt;
• wherein the pH is maintained in the neutral range;
• and wherein the reactive free radical initiates a chemical reaction with the organic compound to produce reaction products of the organic compound;
• and
• (c) treating the contaminate with a bioremediation step, wherein the bioremediation step comprises contacting the contaminate with living, exogenous microbial consortium including at least two species under conditions suitable for the microbial consortium to mediate solubilization or biodegradation of the organic compound or the reaction products thereof.