The effects of abiotic and biotic environmental components on the microbial mineralization of selected xenobiotic compounds in soils

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5015757

Knaebel, D B

This research investigated the effects of environmental components on the microbial mineralization of xenobiotic compounds in soils. The soils' chemical and physical characteristics, microbial community structure, organic and inorganic components, and other associated biota (plants) were examined for their effects on the biodegradation process. The biodegradation of {sup 14}C foreign, synthetic ({double bond} xenobiotic) compounds was measured by quantifying {sup 14} CO{sub 2} production over time. Mineralization kinetics were estimated by first-order and 3/2 order mineralization models. The compounds displayed different mineralization kinetics in the different soils, which were due to nature of the xenobiotic chemical and to abiotic and biotic soil characteristics. Specific soil components (montmorillonite, humic acids and fulvic acids) inhibited mineralization. Other soil components (sand, illite, kaolinite) had less effect on the biodegradation process. Modified soil microbial communities mineralized the compounds differently. Bacteria-enhanced soils metabolized the compounds to greater extents than the fungi-enhanced soils, which both mineralized the compounds more than actinomycete-enhanced soils. However, the rates of mineralization were only significantly different between the bacteria-enhanced soils and the actinomycete-enhanced soil. Plants significantly increased soil microbial biomass and activity, and stimulated the rate of microbial mineralization of xenobiotic compounds. However, they had no effect on the total amounts of mineralization. In summary, these diverse abiotic and biotic environmental components exerted tremendous influences on the microbial turnover of xenobiotic compounds in soils. Therefore, these components should be considered when modeling the fate of xenobiotic chemicals in the environment.

• Research Organization: Cincinnati Univ., OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5015757
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
DECONTAMINATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LAND POLLUTION
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALIZATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION
SOILS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
XENOBIOTICS