Transformation of PAHs in Soil Systems
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 3
Abstract
Transformation kinetics, corrected for abiotic loss and for volatilization, of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were studied in two nonacclimated soils. Mean volatilization losses for naphthalene and 1‐methylnaphthalene were measured as 31% and 22%, respectively, of the total masses applied. Volatilization of the other twelve PAH compounds studied was less than 0.1%. The abiotic loss (1.8‐17.4%) of two‐ and three‐ring PAH compounds in soil samples bio‐inhibited by 2% was statistically significant No significant loss from bio‐inhibited soil was found for PAH compounds with more than three rings. Transformation half‐lives corrected for volatilization and for abiotic loss were approximately 2 days for two‐ring PAHs including naphthalene and 1‐methylnaphthalene. Half‐lives values for nonvolatile PAHs increased from 59 days for three‐ring PAHs (anthracene and phenantherene) to more than 300 days for PAH compounds containing more than three rings. The PAH transformation rate was inversely proportional to molecular weight and compound ring number.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bossert, I., Kachel, W. M., and Bartha, R. (1984). “Fate of hydrocarbons during oily sludge disposal in soil.” Appl. Envir. Microbiolog., 47(4), 763–767.
2.
Bulman, T. L., et al. (1985). The persistence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in soil. Environment Canada, Bulington, Ontario.
3.
Cerniglia, C. E. (1981). “Aromatic hydrocarbons: Metabolism by bacteria, fungi, and algae.” Reviews in biochemical toxicology, E. Hodgson, J. R. Bend, and R. M. Philpot, eds, Elsevier/North Holland, N.Y. Vol. 3, 321–361.
4.
Dagley, S. (1971). “Catabolism of aromatic compounds by microorganisms.” Adv. Microbiol. Physiol. 6(1), 1–46.
5.
Davies, J. I., and Evans, W. C. (1964). “Oxidative metabolism of naphthalene by soil pseudomonads.” Biochem. J., 91(2), 251–261
6.
Dean‐Raymond, D., and Bartha, R. (1975). “Biodegradation of some polynuclear aromatic petroleum components by marine bacteria.” Dev. Ind. Microbiol., 16, 97–110.
7.
Evaluation of volatilization of hazardous constituents at hazardous waste land treatment sites. (1986). EPA‐600/S2‐86/071, Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, Okla.
8.
Evans, W. C., Fernley, H. N., and Griffiths, E. (1965). “Oxidative metabolism of phenanthrene and anthracene by soil pseudomonads: The ring fission mechanism,” Biochem. J., 95(3), 819–831.
9.
Gibson, D. T. (1977). “Biodegradation of aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons.” Fate and effect of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine ecosystems and organisms, D. A. Wolfe, ed, Pergamon Press, N.Y.
10.
Herbes, S. E., Southworth G. R., and Gehra C. W. (1976). “Organic contamination in aqueous coal conversion effluents: Environmental consequences and research priorities.” Trace substances in the environment: A symposium, D. D. Hemphill, ed., Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
11.
Mahmood, R. J. (1989). “Enhanced mobility of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in unsaturated soil,” thesis presented to Utah State University, at Logan, Utah, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
12.
Park, K. S., et al. (1988). “Biological transformation of 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in soil systems.” J. Water Polution Control Fed. 60(10), 1822–1825.
13.
Permit guidance manual on hazardous waste land treatment demonstrations. (1986). EPA‐530/SW86‐032, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
14.
Rozycki, M., and Bartha, R. (1981). “Problems associated with the use of azide as an inhibitor of microbial activity in soil.” Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 41(3), 833–836.
15.
Sims, R. C., and Overcash, M. R. (1983). “Fate of polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs) in soil‐plant systems,” Residue Rev., 88, 1–68.
16.
SPSS X user's guide. (1983). SPSS Inc., Chicago II.
17.
Umfleet, D. A., Sims R. C., and Pano, A. (1984). “Reclamation of PAH contaminated soils.” ASCE Envir. Engrg. Specialty Conf., Los Angeles, Calif.
18.
Waste/soil treatability studies for four complex wastes: Methodologies and results. (1986). EPA‐600/6‐86‐003a,b, Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, Okla.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 3 • May 1990
Pages: 632 - 640
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1990
Published in print: May 1990
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.