Biodegradation in soil of hydrophobic pollutants in nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs)

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620130307· OSTI ID:5107248

Efroymson, R A; Alexander, M ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Inst. for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology

A study was conducted to determine the mineralization in soil and subsoil of hydrophobic organic compounds present in several nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs). When present in soil in some NAPLs, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was not appreciably mineralized, phenanthrene was slowly transformed after an acclimation phase, and hexadecane and naphthalene were biodegraded rapidly. The extent of suppression of biodegradation of test compounds varied with different solvents as NAPLs. The rate of mineralization in subsoil of phenanthrene dissolved in some NAPLs was very slow, but additions of N and P enhanced the degradation. The addition of N and P to soil did not increase the mineralization of DEHP dissolved in NAPLs. The existence of a NAPL in polluted environments may thus markedly affect the susceptibility of organic compounds to biodegradation.

• OSTI ID: 5107248
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• 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.
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
LAND POLLUTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENANTHRENE
PHTHALATES
POLLUTION
SOILS