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

Author(s)

Thilo Hofmann, Christine Achten, S. Cheng, Kristina Lotte Straub

Abstract

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 coalderived

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.

Organisation(s)

External organisation(s)

Universität Münster, East China Normal University

Journal

Environmental Pollution

Volume

159

Pages

623-629

No. of pages

7

ISSN

0269-7491

Publication date

2011

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

105303 Hydrogeology, 104023 Environmental chemistry, 105105 Geochemistry, 105904 Environmental research

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