The lack of microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from coal-rich soils

Analytical techniques used to assess the environmental risk of contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) typically consider only abiotic sample parameters. Supercritical fluid extraction and sorption enthalpy experiments previously suggested slow desorption rates for PAH compounds i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2011-02, Vol.159 (2), p.623-629
Main Authors: Achten, Christine, Cheng, Shubo, Straub, Kristina L., Hofmann, Thilo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Applied sciences
Availability
Bacteria - metabolism
Biodegradation, Environmental
Coal
Coal - analysis
Coal contamination
Contamination
Degradation
Exact sciences and technology
Microbial PAH degradation
Microorganisms
PAH bioavailability
Pollution
Polyallylamine hydrochloride
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism
Soil - chemistry
Soil Microbiology
Soil Pollutants - chemistry
Soil Pollutants - metabolism
Soil-slurry experiments
Soils
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Summary:Analytical techniques used to assess the environmental risk of contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) typically consider only abiotic sample parameters. Supercritical fluid extraction and sorption enthalpy experiments previously suggested slow desorption rates for PAH compounds in two coal-contaminated floodplain soils. In this study, the actual PAH availability for aerobic soil microorganisms was tested in two series of soil-slurry experiments. The experimental conditions supported microbial degradation of phenanthrene if it was weakly sorbed onto silica gel. Native coals and coal-derived particles in two soils effectively acted as very strong sorbents and prevented microbial PAH degradation. The long history of PAH exposure and degree of coal contamination apparently had no influence on the capability of the microbial soil community to overcome constraints of PAH availability. Within the context of the experimental conditions and the compounds chosen, our results confirm that coal-bound PAHs are not bioavailable and hence of low environmental concern. Native PAH compounds from coal-rich soils were not degraded by indigenous microorganisms in aerobic soil-slurry experiments.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.09.035