Rates of solubilization and biodegradation of PAH compounds in porous media

Technical Report · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5516600· OSTI ID:5516600

Luthy, R G

Microbial degradation of hydrophobic organic compounds in soils and aquifer media is dependent on rates of desorption of these compounds from solids and rates of solubilization from residual nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). The couples processes involving microbial degradation and hydrophobic compound availability are not well understood. The proposed research effort explores certain physicochemical phenomena that may have a significant affect on the rate of microbial degradation of hydrophobic organic compounds in porous media. The investigation will examine rates of biomineralization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds that are leached from a residual saturation of coal tar. Batch and continuously-stirred reactor studies will be used to measure solute equilibrium concentrations and rates of solubilization of PAH compounds from coal tar imbided into microporous silica media. These rates will be compared with rates of mineralization of {sup 14}C-labeled compounds in similar systems inoculated with a culture of PAH degrading microorganisms. Column experiments will also be conducted to assess the rates of solubilization and mass transfer coefficients from coal tar entrapped in a sandy aquifer material by capillary forces.

• Research Organization: Carnegie-Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG22-90PC90303
• OSTI ID: 5516600
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/90303-T2; ON: DE92011417
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL TAR
DECOMPOSITION
DESORPTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
POROSITY
PROGRESS REPORT
SOILS
SOLUBILITY
TAR