A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Layer of organic pine forest soil on top of chlorophenol-contaminated mineral soil enhances contaminant degradation
Authors: Aki Sinkkonen, Sari Kauppi, Suvi Simpanen, Anna-Lea Rantalainen, Rauni Strömmer, Martin Romantschuk
Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
Publishing place: HEIDELBERG; TIERGARTENSTRASSE 17, D-69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY
Publication year: 2013
Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Journal name in source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Journal acronym: Environ.Sci.Pollut.Res.
Volume: 20
Issue: 3
First page : 1737
Last page: 1745
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0944-1344
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1047-1(external)
Abstract
Chlorophenols, like many other synthetic compounds, are persistent problem in industrial areas. These compounds are easily degraded in certain natural environments where the top soil is organic. Some studies suggest that mineral soil contaminated with organic compounds is rapidly remediated if it is mixed with organic soil. We hypothesized that organic soil with a high degradation capacity even on top of the contaminated mineral soil enhances degradation of recalcitrant chlorophenols in the mineral soil below. We first compared chlorophenol degradation in different soils by spiking pristine and pentachlorophenol-contaminated soils with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in 10-L buckets. In other experiments, we covered contaminated mineral soil with organic pine forest soil. We also monitored in situ degradation on an old sawmill site where mineral soil was either left intact or covered with organic pine forest soil. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol was rapidly degraded in organic pine forest soil, but the degradation was slower in other soils. If a thin layer of the pine forest humus was added on top of mineral sawmill soil, the original chlorophenol concentrations (high, ca. 70 mu g g(-1), or moderate, ca. 20 mu g g(-1)) in sawmill soil decreased by > 40 % in 24 days. No degradation was noticed if the mineral soil was kept bare or if the covering humus soil layer was sterilized beforehand. Our results suggest that covering mineral soil with an organic soil layer is an efficient way to remediate recalcitrant chlorophenol contamination in mineral soils. The results of the field experiment are promising.
Chlorophenols, like many other synthetic compounds, are persistent problem in industrial areas. These compounds are easily degraded in certain natural environments where the top soil is organic. Some studies suggest that mineral soil contaminated with organic compounds is rapidly remediated if it is mixed with organic soil. We hypothesized that organic soil with a high degradation capacity even on top of the contaminated mineral soil enhances degradation of recalcitrant chlorophenols in the mineral soil below. We first compared chlorophenol degradation in different soils by spiking pristine and pentachlorophenol-contaminated soils with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in 10-L buckets. In other experiments, we covered contaminated mineral soil with organic pine forest soil. We also monitored in situ degradation on an old sawmill site where mineral soil was either left intact or covered with organic pine forest soil. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol was rapidly degraded in organic pine forest soil, but the degradation was slower in other soils. If a thin layer of the pine forest humus was added on top of mineral sawmill soil, the original chlorophenol concentrations (high, ca. 70 mu g g(-1), or moderate, ca. 20 mu g g(-1)) in sawmill soil decreased by > 40 % in 24 days. No degradation was noticed if the mineral soil was kept bare or if the covering humus soil layer was sterilized beforehand. Our results suggest that covering mineral soil with an organic soil layer is an efficient way to remediate recalcitrant chlorophenol contamination in mineral soils. The results of the field experiment are promising.
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