INFLUENCE OF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON ANAEROBIC BIODEGRADATION OF DDT IN CONTAMINATED SOIL. PRELIMINARY LAB-SCALE STUDY. PART II. SUBSTRATES AND pH CONTROL

Suitability of various substrates for anaerobic biodegradation of DDT in contaminated soil was tested in lab-scale tests with granular sludge inoculation. Use of carbohydrate-based substances such as starch, sucrose, molasses and whey resulted in acidification, which in extreme cases inhibited DDT removal. A large amount of phosphate buffer prevented pH drop for starch, but not for sucrose. Better results were obtained with calcium carbonate as a buffering agent, which also had little effect on soil salinity. Very good effectiveness of biodegradation was achieved using sodium lactate which, however, caused alkalinisation of the soil, perhaps due to accumulation of sodium carbonate. Alkalinisation did not occur when calcium lactate was used instead. Experiments also demonstrated that Tween 80 surfactant could be successfully used as a substrate, without experiencing problems with pH control.