Biodegradability of pentachlorophenol in the environment: A literature review
- 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:
- EPRI; USDOE; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6536214
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-102172
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
TOXICITY
SOILS
REMEDIAL ACTION
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AEROBIC DIGESTION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
MICROORGANISMS
PHENOLS
POWER TRANSMISSION
PRESERVATIVES
US EPA
WATER
WATER QUALITY
WOOD
AROMATICS
BIOCONVERSION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
240500* - Power Transmission & Distribution- Environmental Aspects- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
550700 - Microbiology