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Factors affecting the microbial degradation of phenanthrene in soil

  • Environmental Biotechnology
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Summary

Because phenanthrene was mineralized more slowly in soils than in liquid media, a study was conducted to determine the environmental factors that may account for the slow biodegradation in soil. Mineralization was enhanced by additions of phosphate but not potassium, and it was reduced by additions of nitrate. Aeration or amending the soil with glucose affected the rate of mineralization, although not markedly. Phenanthrene was sorbed to soil constituents, the extent of sorption being directly related to the percentage of organic matter in the soil. Soluble phenanthrene was not detected after addition of the compound to a muck soil. The rate of mineralization was slow in the organic soil and higher in mineral soils with lower percentages of organic matter. We suggest that sorption by soil organic matter slows the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are otherwise readily metabolized.

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Author notes

  1. V. B. Manilal

    Present address: Process Engineering Division, Regional Research Laboratory, C.S.I.R., 695091, Trivandrum, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Department of Soil, Crop, and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, N. Y., USA

    V. B. Manilal & Martin Alexander

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  1. V. B. Manilal
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  2. Martin Alexander
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Manilal, V.B., Alexander, M. Factors affecting the microbial degradation of phenanthrene in soil. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 35, 401–405 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172733

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172733

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