Structural Selectivity of PAH Removal Processes in Soil, and the Effect of Metal Co-Contaminants

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) form a convenient structural series of molecules with which to examine the selectivity exerted on their removal by soil microbiota. It is known that there an inverse relationship between PAH molecular size and degradation rates in soil. In this paper, we look at how magnitude slope for relationship, m, can be used as indicator effect metal co-contaminants across range weights. The analysis utilises data collected from our previous microcosm study (Deary, M.E.; Ekumankama, C.C.; Cummings, S.P. Development novel kinetic model biodegradation presence lead cadmium co-contaminants. Journal Hazard Materials 2016, 307, 240–252) followed 16 US EPA PAHs over 40 weeks microcosms taken high organic matter content woodland was amended mixture (total concentration 2166 mg kg−1) co-contaminant concentrations (lead, up 782 kg−1; 620 mercury 1150 kg−1). found m increases relation applied co-contaminant, indicating more adverse microbial communities participate higher weight PAHs. We conclude useful parameter might measure differential effects environmental contaminants removal. Such information will planning implementing remediation strategies.