Photolysis primes biodegradation of benzo(a)pyrene
/sup 14/C-labeled benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was used as a model compound for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in order to assess the effect of photolytic pretreatment on the subsequent fate of BaP in sewage sludge and soil test systems. Photolysis was performed in methanolic solution with or without 0.1 M H/sub 2/O/sub 2/, under either UV light (300 nm) or natural sunlight. The presence of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ greatly enhanced the rate of photolysis both with UV and with natural sunlight. Intact BaP resisted biodegradation in both test systems. Photolysis transformed BaP to polar materials that were subject to increased mineralization and binding in both biological test systems. As shown by the Ames assay, photolysis decreased the mutagenicity of BaP to test strains TA98 and TA104 only moderately. The photolysate had an increased acute toxicity and lost its need for activation by S-9 enzymes. However, during subsequent incubation in soil or sewage sludge, mutagenicity decreased rapidly by one to two order of magnitudes and acute toxicity disappeared due to the mineralization and binding of photoproducts to humic materials. Photolysis of BaP and similar PAH compounds represents a useful treatment option that could be applied to certain PAH-containing petroleum refinery sludge and to coal tar residues in order to facilitate their detoxification and environmentally safe disposal.
- Research Organization:
- Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6741281
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 54:7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BENZOPYRENE
BIODEGRADATION
PHOTOLYSIS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
DETOXIFICATION
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
METABOLIC ACTIVATION
MINERALIZATION
MUTAGEN SCREENING
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROXIDES
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
RADIATIONS
SCREENING
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
WASTES
510101* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (-1989)