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Enhanced bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil by immobilized bacteria with plant residue and biochar as carriers

  • SOILS, SEC 2 • GLOBAL CHANGE, ENVIRON RISK ASSESS, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are largely accumulated in soils in China. The immobilized-microorganism technique (IMT) is a potential approach for abating soil contamination with PAHs. However, few studies about the application of IMT to contaminated soil remediation were reported. Due to recalcitrance to decomposition, biochar application to soil may enhance soil carbon sequestration, but few studies on the application of biochars to remediation of contaminated soil were reported. In this study, we illustrated enhanced bioremediation of soil having a long history of PAH contamination by IMT using plant residues and biochars as carriers.

Materials and methods

Two PAH-degrading bacteria, Pseudomonas putida and an unidentified indigenous bacterium, were selected for IMT. The extractability and biodegradation of 15 PAHs in solution and an actual PAH-contaminated soil amended with immobilized-bacteria materials were investigated under different incubation periods. The effects of carriers and the molecular weight of PAHs on bioremediation efficiency were determined to illustrate their different bio-dissipation mechanisms of PAHs in soil.

Results and discussion

The IMT can considerably enhance the removal of PAHs. Carriers impose different effects on PAH bio-dissipation by amended soil with immobilized-bacteria, which can directly degrade the carrier-associated PAHs. The removal of PAHs from soil depended on PAH molecular weight and carrier types. Enhanced bio-dissipation by IMT was much stronger for 4- and 5-ring PAHs than for 3- and 6-ring ones in soil. Only P400 biochar-immobilized bacteria enhanced bio-dissipation of all PAHs in contaminated soil after a 90-day incubation.

Conclusions

Biochar can promote bioremediation of contaminated soil as microbial carriers of IMT. It is vital to select an appropriate biochar as an immobilized carrier to stimulate biodegradation. It is feasible to use adsorption carriers with high sorptive capabilities to concentrate PAHs as well as microorganisms and thereby enhance dissipation of PAHs and mitigate soil pollution.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 41071210, and 20977081), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant R5100105), the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant 2012AA06A203), and the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (J20091588).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China

    Baoliang Chen, Miaoxin Yuan & Linbo Qian

  2. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China

    Baoliang Chen, Miaoxin Yuan & Linbo Qian

Authors
  1. Baoliang Chen
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  2. Miaoxin Yuan
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  3. Linbo Qian
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Correspondence to Baoliang Chen.

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Responsible editor: Chengrong Chen

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Chen, B., Yuan, M. & Qian, L. Enhanced bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil by immobilized bacteria with plant residue and biochar as carriers. J Soils Sediments 12, 1350–1359 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0554-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0554-5

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