The biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) often is limited by low water solubility and dissolution rate. Nonionic surfactants and sodium dodecyl sulfate increased the concentration of PAH in the water phase because of solubilization. The degradation of PAH was inhibited by sodium dodecyl sulfate because this surfactant was preferred as a growth substrate. Growth of mixed cult...

In this study, the degradation potential of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by aerobic mixed bacterial cultures was investigated. Microorganisms were isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soils of Shadegan wetland located in southwest of Iran. The degradation experiments were conducted in liquid cultures. PAH or PAHs concentration was 100 mg/L at the beginning of degradation exper...

The polychaete Capitella sp. I has been described as an enrichment opportunist and is one of very few species able to thrive in highly organic sediments heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and other organic pollutants. We examined 3 plausible explanations for the success of Capitella sp. 1: (1) worms prevent uptake of PAH across body surfaces, (2) worms take up PAH ...

The aims of this study were to investigate whether Salix viminalis could grow in a highly creosote contaminated soil and, if so, whether the introduction of the plant enhanced the dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The purpose was also to examine whether inoculation of two different bacterial strains further enhanced the decrease of the contaminant. The experiment was condu...

This is the first part of a study that evaluates the influence of nonpoint-source contaminants on the sediment quality of five streams within the metropolitan Kansas City area, central United States. Surficial sediment was collected in 2003 from 29 sites along five streams with watersheds that extend from the core of the metropolitan area to its development fringe. Sediment was analyzed for 16 ...

The acute toxicity of photoactivated anthracene and pyrene to the glochidial larvae of the paper pondshell (Utterbackia imbecillis) was characterized in the laboratory using two sets of experiments. Acute toxicity tests designed to determine the overall sensitivity of glochidia to anthracene and pyrene were conducted under simulated sunlight (ultraviolet [UV]-A = 70+/-0.5 microW/cm2 [mean +/- s...

The vapor pressures of ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ranging in molecular weight from (152 to 252) g ·mol, were measured using the Knudsen effusion technique in the temperature range of (297 to 432) K. These compounds included those for which there were few or conflicting data in the literature: acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluoranthene, benzo[a]phenanthrene, 9,10-benzophenanthrene, be...

The direct determination in drinking water of perylene, chrysene, pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene, by front-face synchronous fluorimetry on a commercial SPE disk, has been evaluated. Sorbent treatment, influence of humic substances, and pH effect are discussed. In pure water the detection limits were estimated to be in the range 0.03-0.01 microg L(-1). A working pH in the range...