Biodegradability of pentachlorophenol in the environment: A literature review. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10155444

Nakles, D ^[1]

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1. Remediation Technologies, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

Pentachlorophenol has been widely used as a wood preserving agent for over 50 years to treat millions of electrical utility poles and crossarms. Treatment of poles with pentachlorophenol has in some cases resulted in contamination of soils, groundwater, and surface water. Environmental releases are a concern because of the potential toxicity of pentachlorophenol and its stringent regulation. Microbiological degradation of pentachlorophenol in environmental media has been demonstrated in numerous cases. The potential for pentachlorophenol to be biologically degraded is of interest to the electrical utility industry for two reasons. First, it is a factor in understanding the probable fate of pentachlorophenol where it has been released into the environment, and second, its biodegradability can potentially result in effective and economical treatment strategies for soils, water, and subsurface environments. The objective of this literature review is to collect a baseline of information on the biodegradability of pentachlorophenol in soils, surface water, and groundwater for the electric utility industry. The focus of the electric utility industry`s interest in the environmental management and control of pentachlorophenol is primarily in the management of environmental media, particularly soils, that may have become incidentally contaminated with pentachlorophenol in association with the treatment, storage, or use of utility poles and crossarms. The review of the literature has found that {open_quotes}unassisted{close_quotes} biodegradation of pentachlorophenol in aquatic, soil, and subsurface environments may occur, presumably if there is an acclimated microbial population of sufficient density. Aerobic conditions appear to be most conducive to biodegradation in these cases. Several studies have shown that with an acclimated, mixed culture and conventional wastewater treatment approaches, pentachlorophenol can be effectively treated in water.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Remediation Technologies, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10155444
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR-102172; ON: UN93013808; TRN: 93:001318
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Apr 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
SOILS
REMEDIAL ACTION
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
TOXICITY
BIODEGRADATION
WOOD
WATER
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
US EPA
WATER QUALITY
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
PRESERVATIVES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
MICROORGANISMS
POWER TRANSMISSION
PHENOLS
240500
540220
540320
550700
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
MICROBIOLOGY