Energy Citations Database

Bibliographic Citation

 
Document
For copies of Journal Articles, please contact the Publisher or your local public or university library and refer to the information in the Resource Relation field.
For copies of other documents, please see the Availability, Publisher, Research Organization, Resource Relation and/or Author (affiliation information) fields and/or Document Availability.
Title Biodegradability of nonaqueous-phase liquids affects the mineralization of phenanthrene in soil because of microbial competition
Creator/Author Morrison, D.E. ; Alexander, M. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)]
Publication Date1997 Aug 01
OSTI IdentifierOSTI ID: 538153
Other Number(s)ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
Resource TypeJournal Article
Resource RelationEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry ; VOL. 16 ; ISSUE: 8 ; PBD: Aug 1997
Subject54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ; BIODEGRADATION; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; REMEDIAL ACTION; SOILS; PHENANTHRENE; MINERALIZATION; SOIL CHEMISTRY; MICROORGANISMS; NUTRIENTS; IN-SITU PROCESSING
Description/Abstract A study was conducted to determine the effects of biodegradability of nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs) and microbial competition on the biodegradation in soil of a constituent of the NAPLs. The rates of mineralization of phenanthrene dissolved in 8 mg of 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane (HMN), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or pristane per g of soil were faster than the rates when the compound was dissolved in hexadecane or dodecane. Addition of inorganic N and P to the soil increased the mineralization rate in the first two but not the last two NAPLs. N and P addition did not enhance mineralization of phenanthrene when added in 500{micro}g of hexadecane, pristane, or HMN per g of soil. Hexadecane was rapidly degraded, pristane was slowly metabolized, DEHP was still slower, and HMN was not mineralized in the test period. Mixing the soil stimulated mineralization of phenanthrene dissolved in HMN but not in hexadecane. Mineralization of phenanthrene dissolved in HMN was the same if the gas phase contained 21%, 2.1%, or traces of O{sub 2}. In contrast, the biodegradation of phenanthrene dissolved in hexadecane, although the same at 21 and 2.1% O{sub 2}, was not observed if traces of O{sub 2} were present. The mineralization was slower in unshaken soil-water mixtures if phenanthrene was added in hexadecane than in HMN or pristane, but the rates with the 3 NAPLs were increased by shaking the suspensions. The authors suggest that the biodegradability of major components of NAPLs and microbial competition for N, P, or O{sub 2} will have a major impact on the rate of transformation of minor constituents of NAPLs.
Country of PublicationUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Formatpp. 1561-1567 ; PL:
System Entry Date2001 May 05

Top