Prediction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soils using an aqueous hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin extraction technique

Stokes, Joanna D., Wilkinson, Anne, Reid, Brian J., Jones, Kevin C. and Semple, Kirk T. (2005) Prediction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soils using an aqueous hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin extraction technique. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24 (6). pp. 1325-1330. ISSN 1552-8618

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Abstract

This study investigated the use of an aqueous hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) shake extraction to predict the degree of microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils. Three different aged PAH-contaminated soils were studied: A soil from a former coke works (CW) and two artificially contaminated soils (AC1 and AC2). First, the catabolic activity of the indigenous soil microflora was assessed with 14C-respirometry, using a range of 14C-labeled aromatic compounds. Extensive mineralization of several compounds occurred in the CW and the AC2 soils, suggesting that both soils contained catabolically active microorganisms. No significant mineralization occurred in the AC1 soil, implying that either it did not contain an indigenous PAH-degrading microbial population or that degradation, but not mineralization, occurred. The soils then were subjected to three sets of analyses: dichloromethane (DCM) soxhlet extraction, six-week biodegradation assay followed by DCM extraction, and extraction with HPCD followed by DCM extraction. A general decrease in PAHs present in the soils occurred after the biodegradation assay. In the CW and the AC1 soils, strong correlations were observed between the amount of PAHs biodegraded and the fraction of PAHs removed from the soils using the HPCD extraction. However, the AC2 soil showed a more modest correlation between the biodegradable fraction and the HPCD extractable fraction, with the HPCD extraction slightly underestimating the extent of PAH biodegradation. The results of this study indicated that an aqueous HPCD extraction may be a useful tool in assessing the microbial availability of aged contaminant mixtures in soils, although further validation is required.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences and Natural Hazards (former - to 2017)
Depositing User:	Rachel Snow
Date Deposited:	08 Jun 2011 12:25
Last Modified:	28 Mar 2025 04:17
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/32047
DOI:	10.1897/04-336R.1

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