Effects of sorption on biodegradation rates of 2,4-D: Improvement of Rao's model

In the presence of sorbents, the biodegradation rates of organic compounds can be decreased or increased. Four kinds of interactions have to be considered as follows: (1) chemicals in solution reacted with bacteria in solution; (2) sorbed chemicals reacted with bacteria in solution; (3) chemicals in solution reacted with sorbed bacteria and (4) sorbed chemicals reacted with sorbed bacteria. The corresponding rate constants K can be solved in our improved model. Some special situations are discussed.

The biodegradation of 2,4-D, as an example, reacted with a pure strain (Pseudomanos sp.) which was isolated from soil polluted by 2,4-D then labeled by radioactive ³²P were performed in the presence of sediment (or soil). The results showed that 2,4-D sorbed on sediment (or soil) were available to neither bacteria in solution nor bacteria on sediment (or soil), but 2,4-D in solution can be degraded by both bacteria in solution and bacteria on sediment (or soil). Biodegradation of 2,4-D in the presence of sediment (or soil) agreed with results of Rao's model.