Assessing impediments to hydrocarbon biodegradation in weathered contaminated soils

Date

2013

Authors

Adetutu, E.
Weber, J.
Aleer, S.
Dandie, C.E.
Aburto Medina, A.
Ball, A.S.
Juhasz, A.L.

Editors

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Type:

Journal article

Citation

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2013; 261:847-853

Statement of Responsibility

Conference Name

Abstract

In this study, impediments to hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soils were assessed using chemical and molecular methodologies. Two long-term hydrocarbon contaminated soils were utilised which were similar in physico-chemical properties but differed in the extent of hydrocarbon (C₁₀–C₄₀) contamination (S1: 16.5 g kg⁻¹; S2: 68.9 g kg⁻¹). Under enhanced natural attenuation (ENA) conditions, hydrocarbon biodegradation was observed in S1 microcosms (26.4% reduction in C₁₀–C₄₀ hydrocarbons), however, ENA was unable to stimulate degradation in S2. Although eubacterial communities (PCR-DGGE analysis) were similar for both soils, the alkB bacterial community was less diverse in S2 presumably due to impacts associated with elevated hydrocarbons. When hydrocarbon bioaccessibility was assessed using HP- β-CD extraction, large residual concentrations remained in the soil following the extraction procedure. However, when linear regression models were used to predict the endpoints of hydrocarbon degradation, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between HP- β-CD predicted and microcosm measured biodegradation endpoints. This data suggested that the lack of hydrocarbon degradation in S2 resulted primarily from limited hydrocarbon bioavailability.

School/Discipline

Dissertation Note

Provenance

Description

Data source: Figures & tables, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.01.052

Access Status

Rights

Copyright 2013 Elsevier

License

Grant ID

Call number

Persistent link to this record