Biodegradation of Select Organic Pollutants in Soil Columns Under Denitrifying Conditions

ABSTRACT The majority of the biotreatability studies has been confined to laboratory flask assay level. However, these studies may not provide sufficient information for extrapolation to full-scale bioremediation. In this study, laboratory soil columns were used to closely simulate in-situ field conditions and predict the fate of certain aromatic compounds under denitrifying conditions. The soil columns, after sufficient acclimation period, metabolized toluene rapidly with concomitant nitrate consumption. Approximately 6.48 moles of nitrate was utilized per mole of toluene metabolized. This stoichiometry suggested that about 90% of the substrate was mineralized. Increasing the toluene loading rate from 23.4 to 93.5 mg/kg soil/day had no detrimental influence on the microbial degradative capabilities. When sufficient time was allowed for acclimation, the soil microbiota was able to cross-adapt to degrade other aromatic substrates including ethylbenzene, 2-, and 3-fluorobenzoic acid, and 2-, and 3-chlorophe...