Enhancing the bioavailability of organic compounds sequestered in soil and aquifer solids

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry 1999-02, Vol.18 (2), p.182-187
• Main Authors: White, J.C, Alexander, M, Pignatello, J.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Bioavailability; biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; mineralization; organic compounds; Phenanthrene; pollutants; Sequestration; soil
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620180212

A study was conducted to find ways to increase the biodegradability of compounds that have aged in soil or aquifer material and become less bioavailable. Slurrying enhanced the rate and extent of biodegradation by individual bacterial strains of aged and unaged phenanthrene and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in soils and aquifer solids. After bacterial degradation of aged phenanthrene in unslurried soil had largely ceased, the residual compound was metabolized if the soil was slurried and reinoculated with a phenanthrene-degrading bacterium. The rate and extent of biodegradation of aged phenanthrene by Pseudomonas sp. were enhanced when anthracene or pyrene was added to the soil at the same time as the bacterium, although the organism could not metabolize anthracene or pyrene. Moreover, anthracene or pyrene increased the amount of aged phenanthrene removed from soil by a mild extractant. The data show that the bioavailability of organic compounds that become sequestered by aging can be altered by appropriate soil treatments.