Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated saline–alkaline soils of the former Lake Texcoco

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2006-03, Vol.62 (11), p.1749-1760
• Main Authors: Betancur-Galvis, L.A., Alvarez-Bernal, D., Ramos-Valdivia, A.C., Dendooven, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural soil; Alkalies - analysis; alkaline soils; anthracene; Applied sciences; benzopyrene; biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; bioremediation; Biosolid; biosolids; Biotechnology; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Dynamics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fertilizer; fertilizer application; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Kinetics; lacustrine soils; Mexico; Microcosms assays; nitrogen; nitrogen fertilizers; Particle Size; phenanthrene; phosphorus; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; saline soils; Sequestration; Sodium Chloride - analysis; Soil - analysis; Soil - standards; soil amendments; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Microbiology - standards; soil microorganisms; Soil Pollutants - analysis; soil pollution
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.07.026

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as phenanthrene, anthracene and Benzo[ a]pyrene (BaP) are toxic for the environment. Removing these components from soil is difficult as they are resistant to degradation and more so in soils with high pH and large salt concentrations as in soil of the former lake Texcoco, but stimulating soil micro-organisms growth by adding nutrients might accelerate soil restoration. Soil of Texcoco and an agricultural Acolman soil, which served as a control, were spiked with phenanthrene, anthracene and BaP, added with or without biosolid or inorganic fertilizer (N, P), and dynamics of PAHs, N and P were monitored in a 112-day incubation. Concentrations of phenanthrene did not change significantly in sterilized Acolman soil, but decreased 2-times in unsterilized soil and >25-times in soil amended with biosolid and NP. The concentration of phenanthrene in unsterilized soil of Texcoco was 1.3-times lower compared to the sterilized soil, 1.7-times in soil amended with NP and 2.9-times in soil amended with biosolid. In unsterilized Acolman soil, degradation of BaP was faster in soil amended with biosolid than in unamended soil and soil amended with NP. In unsterilized soil of Texcoco, degradation of BaP was similar in soil amended with biosolid and NP but faster than in the unamended soil. It was found that application of biosolid and NP increased degradation of phenanthrene, anthracene and BaP, but to a different degree in alkaline–saline soil of Texcoco compared to an agricultural Acolman soil.