Extrapolating mineralization rates from the ready CO2 screening test to activated sludge, river water, and soil

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry 1997-01, Vol.16 (2), p.127-134
• Main Authors: FEDERLE, T. W, GASIOR, S. D, NUCK, B. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1897/1551-5028(1997)016<0127:EMRFTR>2.3.CO;2

The rates of mineralization of 9 biodegradable chemicals were concurrently measured in a Ready carbon dioxide test and in realistic carbon-14 tests using activated sludge, river water and sludge-amended soil. Regression and correlation analyses were used to determine the statistical relationships between mineralization rates obtained in the different test systems. A first-order logistic function provided the best fit to data generated in the Ready carbon dioxide test. A 3-half-order model without growth provided the best fit for the activated sludge and soil mineralization data. No single kinetic model accurately described carbon dioxide evolution for all the chemicals in the river water test. Mineralization rates obtained in the Ready carbon dioxide test, activated sludge test and soil test were 0.13-0.6, 0.6-4.2 and 0.07-0.4 per d, respectively. Mineralization rates for river water tests were very varied. Scaling factors for extrapolating from the Ready carbon dioxide test to the realistic activated sludge, river water and soil tests were derived for each compound.