Predicting the biodegradation of target hydrocarbons in the presence of mixed contaminants in soil

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2009, Vol.74 (4), p.563-567
• Main Authors: Stroud, Jacqueline L., Paton, Graeme I., Semple, Kirk T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Cyclodextrins - chemistry; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Hexadecane; HP-α-CD; HP-β-CD; Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Phenanthrene; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Predictive Value of Tests; Soil; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.09.071

The aim of this study was to investigate the prediction of 14C-phenanthrene and 14C-hexadecane biodegradation in the presence of other hydrocarbons in soil using β- and α-cyclodextrin (CD) solutions, respectively. Prediction of the biodegradation of 14C-phenanthrene using the β-CD extraction was robust under single, co-contaminant and multiple contaminant conditions ( r 2 = 0.92, slope of best fit line = 0.87, intercept = 7.24, n = 84). Prediction of 14C-hexadecane using the α-CD extraction was robust under single and co-contaminant conditions ( r 2 = 0.92, slope of best fit line = 0.97, intercept = 1.24, n = 60); however, the α-CD could not accurately predict 14C-hexadecane biodegradation in the presence of multiple contaminants. The presence of multiple contaminants enhanced 14C-hexadecane mineralisation, but did not enhance extractability. The results from this study provide further evidence for the application of HPCD extractions for the measurement of microbial accessibility in soil.