Degradation and transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil systems

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6924914

Park, K

Biodegradation of fourteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in two soils was studied by measuring parent compound disappearance and volatilization emission losses of these compounds from soil samples. Degradation kinetic rates using a first-order model were calculated as half-lives. Mean degradation half-lives corrected for volatilization varied from two days for two-ring PHAs to 59 days for three-ring PHAs to more than 300 days for PHAs with more than three rings. Volatilization corrected degradation of two-and three-ring PAH compounds in soil samples poisoned by 2% HgCl/sub 2/ was small but significant (p < 0.05). No significant degradation from poisoned soil was found for the PAH compound with more than three rings. RITZE (the Enhanced Regulatory and Investigative Treatment Zone) model was used to evaluate the treatment and leaching potential of PAH compounds in soil systems. All 12 PAH compounds evaluated were significantly assimilated in the soil system and no significant leaching of these compounds to ground water was predicted. Transformation of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene was studied in a nonacclimated sandy loam soil at low and neutral pH soil conditions. Soil extracts containing transformation products were separated into three fractions based on HPLC retention time (polarity). Highly polar transformation products of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene demonstrated a negative mutagenic response with the Ames mutagenicity assay, strain TA-100, for both low and neutral pH soils. Moderate and low polar fractions, however, induced mutagenicity for both soil samples with mutagenic ratios similar to those of the parent compound. Mutagenic responses for the metabolites formed from low and neutral pH soil were not different. Similar microbial distributions in the two pH soils contributed to this result.

• Research Organization: Utah State Univ., Logan (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6924914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
REACTION KINETICS
SOILS
VOLATILITY