Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of soil amendment with different carbon sources and other factors on the bioremediation of an aged PAH-contaminated soil

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodegradation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Carbon supplementation, soil moisture and soil aeration are believed to enhance in situ bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils by stimulating the growth of indigenous microorganisms. However, the effects of added carbon and nitrogen together with soil moisture and soil aeration on the dissipation of PAHs and on associated microbial counts have yet to be fully assessed. In this study the effects on bioremediation of carbon source, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, soil moisture and aeration on an aged PAH-contaminated agricultural soil were studied in microcosms over a 90-day period. Additions of starch, glucose and sodium succinate increased soil bacterial and fungal counts and accelerated the dissipation of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene in soil. Decreases in phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were effective in soil supplemented with glucose and sodium succinate (both 0.2 g C kg−1 dry soil) and starch (1.0 g C kg−1 dry soil). The bioremediation effect at a C/N ratio of 10:1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than at a C/N of either 25:1 or 40:1. Soil microbial counts and PAH dissipation were lower in the submerged soil but soil aeration increased bacterial and fungal counts, enhanced indigenous microbial metabolic activities, and accelerated the natural degradation of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene. The results suggest that optimizing carbon source, C/N ratio, soil moisture and aeration conditions may be a feasible remediation strategy in certain PAH contaminated soils with large active microbial populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ambrosoli R, Petruzzelli L, Minati JL, Marsan FA (2005) Anaerobic PAH degradation in soil by a mixed bacterial consortium under denitrifying conditions. Chemosphere 60:1231–1236

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Antizar-Ladislao B, Lopez-Real J, Beck AJ (2005) In-vessel composting-bioremediation of aged coal tar soil: effect of temperature and soil/green waste amendment ratio. Environ Int 31:173–178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Antizar-Ladislao B, Lopez-Real J, Beck AJ (2006) Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an aged coal-tar contaminated soil under in-vessel composting conditions. Environ Pollut 141:459–468

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Atagana HI, Haynes RJ, Wallis FM (2003) Optimization of soil physical and chemical conditions for the bioremediation of creosote-contaminated soil. Biodegradation 14:97–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baran S, Bielińska JE, Oleszczuk P (2004) Enzymatic activity in an airfield soil polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Geoderma 118:221–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bogan BW, Sullivan WR (2003) Physicochemical soil parameters affecting sequestration and mycobacterial biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil. Chemosphere 52:1717–1726

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bregnard TPA, Hoehener P, Haener A, Zeyer J (1996) Degradation of weathered diesel fuel by microorganisms from a contaminated aquifer in aerobic and anaerobic microcosms. Environ Toxicol Chem 15:299–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calstrom CJ, Tuovinen OH (2003) Mineralization of phenanthrene and fluoranthene in yard waste compost. Environ Pollut 124:81–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cerniglia CE (1992) Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Biodegradation 3:351–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaîneau CH, Rougeux G, Yéprémian C, Oudot J (2005) Effects of nutrient concentration on the biodegradation of crude oil and associated microbial populations in the soil. Soil Biol Biochem 37:1490–1497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coates JD, Anderson RT, Woodward JC, Phillips EJP, Lovley DR (1996) Anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum contaminated harbor sediments under sulfate-reducing and artificially imposed iron-reducing conditions. Environ Sci Technol 30:2784–2789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coulon F, Pelletier E, Gourhant L, Delille D (2005) Effects of nutrient and temperature on degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated sub-Antarctic soil. Chemosphere 58:1439–1448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ding KQ, Luo YM, Liu SL, Song J, Wu LH, Xing WQ, Li ZG, Tao S (2004a) Dynamics of benzo[a]pyrene concentrations in soil as influenced by ryegrass plants (in Chinese). Acta Pedol Sin 41:348–353

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding KQ, Luo YM, Liu SL, Xing WQ, Wu LH, Song J, Li ZG (2004b) Degradation of phenanthrene in soil at different aeration rates using modified biological reactor (in Chinese). Acta Peologica Sinica 41:245–251

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doick KJ, Semple KT (2003) The effect of soil:water ratios on the internalization of phenanthrene: LNAPL mixtures in soil. FEMS Microbiol Lett 220:29–33

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eggen T (1999) Application of fungal substrate from commercial mushroom production: Pleuorotus ostreatus for bioremediation of creosote contaminated soil. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 44:117–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gallizia I, Vezzulli L, Fabiano M (2004) Oxygen supply for biostimulation of enzymatic activity in organic-rich marine ecosystems. Soil Biol Biochem 36:1645–1652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godoy-Faúndez A, Antizar-Ladislao B, Reyes-Bozo L, Camaño A, Saez-Navarrete C (2008) Bioremediation of contaminated mixtures of desert mining soil and sawdust with fuel oil by aerated in-vessel composting in the Atacama Region (Chile). J Haz Mater 151:649–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong ZQ, Li PJ, Wang X, Tai PD, Zhang HR (2002) Effects of aromatics on the degradation of benzo[a]pyrene in slurry reactors. Chin J Environ Sci 23(6):69–73

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gong ZQ, Alef K, Wilke BM, Li PJ (2005) Dissolution and removal of PAHs from a contaminated soil using sunflower oil. Chemosphere 58:291–298

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haritash AK, Kaushik CP (2009) Biodegradation aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): a review. J Haz Mater 169:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson CR, Scow KM (1999) Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on phenanthrene biodegradation in four soils. Biodegradation 10:43–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juhasz AL, Naidu R (2000) Bioremediation of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review of the microbial degradation of benzo[a]pyrene. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 45:57–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanaly RA, Bartha R (1999) Co-metabolic mineralization of benzo[a]pyrene caused by hydrocarbon additions to soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 18:2186–2190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanaly RA, Harayama S (2000) Biodegradation of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by bacteria. J Bacteriol 182:2059–2067

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanaly RA, Bartha R, Watanabe K, Harayama S (2000) Rapid mineralization of benzo[a]pyrene by a microbial consortium growing on diesel fuel. Appl Environ Microbiol 66(10):4205–4211

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanaly RA, Harayama S, Watanabe K (2002) Rhodanobacter sp. strain BPC1 in a benzo[a]pyrene-mineralizing bacterial consortium. Appl Environ Microbiol 68:826–5833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larkin RP (2003) Characterization of soil microbial communities under different potato cropping systems by microbial population dynamics, substrate utilization, and fatty acid profiles. Soil Biol Biochem 35:1451–1466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee K, Park JW, Ahn IS (2003) Effect of additional carbon source on naphthalene biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida G7. J Haz Mater 105:157–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis RF (1992) Site demonstration of slurry-phase biodegradation of PAH contaminated soil. In: 85th Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Kansas City, MO, 1992, June 21–26, Available from: Air and Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Li H, Luo YM, Song J, Wu LH, Christie P (2006) Degradation of benzo[a]pyrene in an experimentally contaminated paddy soil by vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides). Environ Geochem Health 28:183–188

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liebeg EW, Cutright TJ (1999) The investigation of enhanced bioremediation through the addition of macro and micro nutrients in a PAH contaminated soil. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 44:55–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lladó S, Jiménez N, Viñas M, Solanas AM (2009) Microbial populations related to PAH biodegradation in an aged biostimulated creosote-contaminated soil. Biodegradation 20:593–601

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu RK (ed) (2000) Analytical methods of soil and agricultural chemistry. China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, Beijing, pp 12–195

  • Mahaffey WR (1988) Bacterial oxidation of chemical carcinogens: formation of polycyclic aromatic acids from benz[a]anthracene. Appl Environ Microbiol 54:2415–2423

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Margesin R, Schinner F (2001) Bioremediation (natural attenuation and biostimulation) of diesel-oil-contaminated soil in an alpine glacier skiing Area. Appl Environ Microbiol 67:3127–3133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan P, Watkinson RJ (1989) Hydrocarbon degradation in soils and methods for soil biotreatment. Crit Rev Biotechnol 8:305–333

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris RD (ed) (1994) Handbook of bioremediation. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Newcombe DA, Crawford RL (2007) Transformation and fate of 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in anaerobic bioslurry reactors under various aeration schemes: implications for the decontamination of soils. Biodegradation 18:741–754

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Núñez EV, Gaytan AG, Luna-Guido M, Marsch R, Dendooven L (2009) Impact of moisture dynamic and sun light on anthracene removal from soil. Biodegradation 20:191–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ping LF, Luo YM, Zhang HB, Li QB, Wu LH (2007) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in thirty typical soil profiles in the Yangtze River Delta region, east China. Environ Pollut 147:358–365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rentz JA, Alvarez PJJ, Schnoor JL (2005) Benzo[a]pyrene co-metabolism in the presence of plant root extracts and exudates: implications for phytoremediation. Environ Pollut 136:477–484

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riser-Roberts E (1998) Remediation of petroleum contaminated soil: biological, physical and chemical processes. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar D, Ferguson M, Datta R, Birnbaum S (2005) Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils: comparison of biosolids addition, carbon supplementation, and monitored natural attenuation. Environ Pollut 136:187–195

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Song XF, Xu HX, Ren LP (2001) Bioremediation of mineral oil and polycycle aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils with two plant species. Chin J Appl Ecol 12:108–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun TH, Song YF, Xu HX, Wang HY (1998) Regulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biodegradation in contaminated soil. Chin J Appl Ecol 9:640–644

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson OA, Wolf DC, Mattice JD, Thoma GJ (2008) Influence of nitrogen addition and plant root parameters on phytoremediation of pyrene-contaminated soil. Water Air Soil Pollut 189:37–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tittle PC, Liu YT, Strand SE (1995) Use of alternative growth substrates to enhance PAH degradation. In: Hinchee R (ed) Bioremediation of recalcitrant organics. ACS Publishing, New York, pp 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu YC, Luo YM, Zou DX, Ni JZ, Liu WX, Teng Y, Li ZG (2008) Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated soil with Monilinia sp.: degradation and microbial community analysis. Biodegradation 19:247–257

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang WJ, Shen DZ, Zhang C, Meng MB, Han QP (1999) Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in composting of soil. Chin J Appl Environ Biology 5:605–609

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou E, Crawford R (1995) Effects of oxygen, nitrogen, and temperature on gasoline biodegradation in soil. Biodegradation 6:127–140

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zitrides T (1983) Biodecontamination of spill sites. Pollut Eng 15:25–27

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by by grants from the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCW2-YW-404 and CXTD-Z2005-4), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2007AA061101) and the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No. 2002CB410809).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 210008, Nanjing, China

    Ying Teng, Yongming Luo, Lifeng Ping, Dexun Zou & Zhengao Li

  2. Agri-Environment Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX, UK

    Peter Christie

Authors
  1. Ying Teng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongming Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lifeng Ping
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dexun Zou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhengao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Peter Christie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongming Luo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Teng, Y., Luo, Y., Ping, L. et al. Effects of soil amendment with different carbon sources and other factors on the bioremediation of an aged PAH-contaminated soil. Biodegradation 21, 167–178 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-009-9291-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-009-9291-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation