Microbial PCB dechlorination in dredged sediments and the effect of moisture

Evidence of reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments was investigated in Hudson River sediments dredged and encapsulated in 1978 at Moreau, NY. The effect of different moisture contents in dredged sediments on dechlorination and dechlorinating microorganisms was also determined using PCB-spiked sediments in which the moisture level was adjusted by simulating a dewatering process. The congener pattern of PCBs indicated that the dechlorination in the dredged sediments was far less advanced than that in the river sediments collected from the general area of the dredged site (Ft. Edward site). Dechlorination in encapsulated sediments at the Moreau site appeared to have stopped soon after dredging. When microorganisms eluted from the encapsulated sediments were inoculated in clean sediments spiked with Aroclor 1242, an extensive dechlorination was observed, indicating that the encapsulated sediments still harbored dechlorinating microorganisms. However, the same inoculum failed to further dechlorinate residual congeners in the dredged sediments. On the other hand, an inoculum obtained in 1990 from the dredged site in the Hudson River dechlorinated the residual congeners further. In simulated dredged sediments, the maximum level of dechlorination was lower at reduced moisture contents. The population size of dechlorinating microorganisms, as determined by the most probable number (MPN) technique, was also smaller at the lower moisture levels. There was a significant correlation between the maximum extent of dechlorination and the specific death rate of dechlorinating populations. These results indicate that the underlying mechanism of the moisture-dependent maximum dechlorination is the moisture-dependence of the death rate of dechlorinating microorganisms.     

Anaerobic dechlorination and redox activities after full-scale Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) of a TCE-contaminated aquifer

The effects of Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) on dechlorination of TCE and redox conditions were investigated in this study. Aquifer and groundwater samples were collected prior to and after ERH treatment, where sediments were heated to approximately 100 degrees C. Sediment samples were collected from three locations and examined in microcosms for 250 to 400 days of incubation. Redox activities, in terms of consumed electron acceptors, were low in unamended microcosms with field-heated sediments, although they increased upon lactate-amendment. TCE was not dechlorinated or stalled at cDCE with field-heated sediments, which was similar or lower compared to the degree of dechlorination in unheated microcosms. However, in microcosms which were bioaugmented with a mixed anaerobic dechlorinating culture (KB-1) and lactate, dechlorination past cDCE to ethene was observed in field-heated sediments. Dechlorination and redox activities in microcosms with field-heated sediments were furthermore compared with controlled laboratory-heated microcosms, which were heated to 100 degrees C for 10 days and then slowly cooled to 10 degrees C. In laboratory-heated microcosms, TCE was not dechlorinated and redox activities remained low in unamended and lactate-amended sediments, although organic carbon was released to the aqueous phase. In contrast, in field-heated sediments, high aqueous concentrations of organic carbon were not observed in unamended microcosms, and TCE was dechlorinated to cDCE upon lactate amendment. This suggests that dechlorinating microorganisms survived the ERH or that groundwater flow through field-heated sediments carried microorganisms into the treated area and transported dissolved organic carbon downstream.     

Carbon/electron source dependence of polychlorinated biphenyl dechlorination pathways for anaerobic granules

The effect of acclimating anaerobic granules from commercial bioreactors with different carbon/electron sources on their ability to reductively dechlorinate a tri-(2,3,4-CB) and heptachlorobiphenyl (2,2',3,3',4,5,6-CB) was studied. The anaerobic granules were first grown in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors fed with two different mixtures of carbon/electron sources, i.e., propionate/butyrate/methanol and formate/methanol. Differences in dechlorination patterns for 2,2',3,3',4,5,6-CB were observed in batch experiments inoculated with granules from these two sets of UASB reactors. Variation of the carbon/electron source, during the dechlorination process, had no effect on the dechlorination pathway, but the extents and rates of dechlorination were highest for ethanol and formate and lowest for pyruvate fed batches. Pre-acclimation of different anaerobic sludges to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) shortened the lag period, but did not influence the PCB dechlorination pathway. This is the first time that similar acclimation conditions for several anaerobic microbial communities prior to inoculation were reported to yield similar substrate specificities for the reductive dechlorination of specific PCB congeners. This research demonstrates a successful strategy for the development of biocatalysts to serve as the inoculum of partially decontaminated sites in order to provide microorganisms with specificities complementary to those of naturally occurring dechlorinators.     

Comparisons of PCBs dechlorination occurrences in various contaminated sediments

A comparison was made of reductive dechlorination occurrences of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by microorganisms collected from contaminated sediments including Er-Jen River (Tainan, Taiwan), Hudson River (Ft. Edward, NY), Silver Lake (Pittsfield, MA) and Puget Sound (Washington State). Comparisons was made in terms of chromatographic data (referring to the biological activity, including microbial availability) and thermodynamic data (demonstrating the selectivity of anaerobic microorganisms in the dechlorination of chlorinated compounds). Chromatographic data was established in terms of difference in relative retention time (delta ln RRT) and thermodynamic data was estimated as heat of reaction (delta H(r)0). Both were calculated and correlated to occurrences of dechlorination reactions. Observed dechlorination reactions for individually introducing PCB congener had delta ln RRT levels measured as >0.47 (Er-Jen River), >0.29 (Hudson River), >0.36 (Silver Lake) and >0.45 (Puget Sound, for Aroclor 1254 dechlorination). Critical of delta H(r)0 and delta ln RRT values showed that Hudson River and Silver Lake microorganisms were capable of dechlorinating PCBs through reactions with larger H(r)0 value (lower levels of released energy) and smaller delta ln RRT value compared with those found in Er-Jen River and Puget Sound sediments. Differences in the critical delta ln RRT values of these sediments may be due to differences in their levels of PCB contamination.     

Dechlorination and organohalide-respiring bacteria dynamics in sediment samples of the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir

Several groups of bacteria such as Dehalococcoides spp., Dehalobacter spp., Desulfomonile spp., Desulfuromonas spp., or Desulfitobacterium spp. are able to dehalogenate chlorinated pollutants such as chloroethenes, chlorobenzenes, or polychlorinated biphenyls under anaerobic conditions. In order to assess the dechlorination potential in Yangtze sediment samples, the presence and activity of the reductively dechlorinating bacteria were studied in anaerobic batch tests. Eighteen sediment samples were taken in the Three Gorges Reservoir catchment area of the Yangtze River, including the tributaries Jialing River, Daning River, and Xiangxi River. Polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated the presence of dechlorinating bacteria in most samples, with varying dechlorinating microbial community compositions at different sampling locations. Subsequently, anaerobic reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (PCE) was tested after the addition of electron donors. Most cultures dechlorinated PCE completely to ethene via cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) or trans-dichloroethene. Dehalogenating activity corresponded to increasing numbers of Dehalobacter spp., Desulfomonile spp., Desulfitobacterium spp., or Dehalococcoides spp. If no bacteria of the genus Dehalococcoides spp. were present in the sediment, reductive dechlorination stopped at cis-DCE. Our results demonstrate the presence of viable dechlorinating bacteria in Yangtze samples, indicating their relevance for pollutant turnover.     

Effect of coplanar PCB concentration on dechlorinating microbial communities and dechlorination in estuarine sediments

The effect of concentration of coplanar PCB on the dechlorinating microbial community and dechlorination were investigated in anoxic estuarine sediment collected from Er-Jen River and enriched with 10 and 50 mg L⁻¹ of 3,4,4′,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl, 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl, and 3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobipheny. Dechlorination rates were similar in the cultures enriched with 10 and 50 mg L⁻¹ of 3,4,4′,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl, whereas significantly higher dechlorination rates were observed in cultures enriched with 10 mg L⁻¹ of 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl. No dechlorination was observed in sediment slurries enriched with 3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobipheny. Para dechlorination occurred prior to meta dechlorination during reductive dechlorination of 3,4,4′,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl. GC-MS and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to detect dechlorination products and dechlorinating microorganisms in the enriched sediment cultures during the process of degradation. Two Chloroflexi phylotypes observed in DGGE were responsible for para and meta dechlorination respectively. Phylotype Cp-1 has 98% similarity to uncultured bacterium N5-12. Phylotype Cm-1 has 99% similarity to uncultured dechlorinating bacterium m1 or SF1 belonging to the ο-17/DF-1 group of PCB-dechlorinating bacteria.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of the South China Sea

Sixteen sediment samples, collected from the South China Sea, were analyzed for 11 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total concentrations of the 11 PAHs studied in the sediments ranged from 24.7 to 275.4 ng/g with a mean of 145.9 ng/g dry sediment. PAH concentrations displayed a consistent distribution trend with the sediment organic carbon content. The linear regression analysis showed that the total concentration of PAHs in the sediment was significantly correlated to the sediment organic carbon content with a correlation coefficient of 0.735 (n=16). Special PAH compound ratios, such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene, were calculated to evaluate the relative importance of different origins. The collected data showed that pyrolytic input from anthropogenic combustion processes was predominant at almost all the stations investigated. Only one station, located in the proximity of oil wells, appeared to be contaminated predominantly by petrogenic input. Three anthropogenic PAHs, i.e. pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[e]pyrene, exhibited similar distribution patterns in the studied area, implying that these compounds possess identical sources. However, perylene did not entirely follow the distribution trend of the three PAHs, suggesting that the sediment perylene probably derived from other sources such as in situ biogenic origins. Dibenzothiophene, a sulfur heterocyclic aromatic compound, was also measured in this study.     

Release of pentachlorophenol from black carbon-inclusive sediments under different environmental conditions

To investigate the feasibility of using black carbon (BC) in the control of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in sediment, we added BCs from various sources (rice straw charcoal (RC), fly ash (FC) and soot (SC)) to sediment to create different BC-inclusive sediments and studied the release of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the sediments under different condition. Different pH values had no obvious effect on the release of PCP in BC-inclusive sediment, but solid/liquid ratio, temperature, salinity and dissolved organic matter (DOM) content had significant influences on the release of PCP in all sediments except the RC-inclusive sediment. Adding 2% RC to sediment resulted in a 90% decrease in PCP release, which was a greater decrease than observed with FC- and SC-inclusive sediments. Therefore, from the standpoint of HOC release, the application of RC is feasible for organic pollution control in the water environment.     

Historical deposition behaviors of PAHs in the Yangtze River Estuary: Role of the sources and water currents

Historical profiles and sources of PAHs at two typical sediment cores (i.e., the shipping route site and the shoal site) were fully compared to probe the controlling factors, specifically the water currents, for the PAHs deposition processes in the Yangtze River Estuary. Compared with ocean water currents, river runoff affected by the water impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam greatly affected the PAHs levels and percent contribution of PAHs sources in the two cores. River runoff hindered the PAHs deposition in shoal site, while a contrary phenomenon was observed for the shipping route site. Though the PAHs in the estuary were mainly from river catchment, only low ring PAHs in the shipping route site were mainly from the upper reach of the river. Coarse sediments with higher organic carbon content also accounted for the higher deposition levels of PAHs in the shipping route site.     

Distribution of alkylphenols in the Pearl River Delta and adjacent northern South China Sea, China

The occurrence of alkylphenols (APs) was investigated in surface water and sediments from the Pearl River Delta and adjacent northern South China Sea. Most of the water samples contained detectable amounts of APs, ranging up to 0.628 microg l(-1) for nonylphenol (NP) and 0.068 microg l(-1) for octylphenol (OP). APs were found in all of the sediment samples with concentrations ranging from 59 to 7808 microg kg(-1) for NP and from 1 to 93 microg kg(-1) for OP. The Zhujiang River showed the highest concentrations of APs in both water and sediments. Significant decrease of APs concentrations going from the Zhujiang River to the Shiziyang River was observed. The Xijiang River contained concentrations of APs slightly higher in water but relatively lower in sediments than the Lingding Bay, which might be attributed to their different hydrodynamic and sedimentary characteristics. There was a decreasing trend of APs in water from the rivers to the estuary and further to the sea on the whole. In the Lingding Bay and its outer waters, concentrations of APs in sediments increased to a maximum and then decrease seaward, which was consistent with the distribution trend of the sediment organic carbon contents. Linear regression analyses showed the concentrations of APs were markedly correlated with the sediment organic carbon contents, indicating that the sediment organic carbon is an important factor controlling the levels of APs in sediments.     

Modification of chemical oxygen demand monitoring in the Yellow River, China, with a high content of sediments.

This paper presents a modification of chemical oxygen demand (COD) monitoring giving a better indication of the pollution level compared with the conventional COD method for rivers with a high content of sediments. The correlation between the sediment organic carbon and COD was investigated using sediments sampled in the middle Yellow River, China. Partitioning of the sediment organic carbon between the water and sediment phases was also investigated using batch experiments, with the sediment concentration varying from 20 to 400 g/L. As a result, the COD modification equations are proposed for both turbid water (mixture of water and sediment) and supematant water (filtrate using a 0.45-microm membrane). The modified COD in turbid water and supernatant water could be 40 and 10% less than the monitored COD values, respectively. These results may have a significant influence on the assessment of water quality class in the Yellow River.     

Organic carbon effects on aerobic polychlorinated biphenyl removal and bacterial community composition in soils and sediments

Certain organic compounds, including biphenyl and salicylic acid, stimulate polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degradation by microorganisms in some environments. However, the usefulness of these amendments for improving PCB removal by microorganisms from diverse habitats has not been extensively explored. This study evaluated the effects of biphenyl, salicylic acid, and glucose on changes in aerobic PCB removal and bacterial communities from an agricultural soil, a wetland peat soil, a river sediment, and a mixture of these samples. PCB removal patterns were significantly different between soils and sediments amended with carbon compounds: (i) terrestrial soil microorganisms removed more PCBs than river sediment microorganisms, particularly with regard to PCBs with >4 chlorine substituents, (ii) glucose-supplemented, agricultural soil microorganisms removed more hexachlorobiphenyl than unsupplemented samples, (iii) biphenyl-supplemented, river sediment microorganisms removed more di- and tri-chlorobiphenyls than unamended samples. Carbon amendments also caused unique shifts in soil and sediment bacterial communities, as determined by specific changes in bacterial 16S rRNA denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis banding patterns. These results indicate that organic carbon amendments had site-specific effects on bacterial populations and PCB removal. Further work is needed to more accurately characterize PCB degrading communities and functional gene expression in diverse types of environments to better understand how they respond to bioremediation treatments.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface sediments from Yellow River, China

Fourteen surface sediment samples were collected from Lanzhou Reach of Yellow River, China in July 2005. The concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). Total concentrations of the PAHs ranged from 464 to 2621 ng/g dry weight. Sediment samples with the highest PAH concentrations appeared at the downstream of Lanzhou City, where there was the biggest wastewater discharge pipeline from Lanzhou Oil Refinery Factory and Lanzhou Chemical Industry Company. Municipal sewage also contributed to the PAH contamination in the sediments. A correlation existed between the sediment organic carbon content (f(oc)) and the total PAH concentrations (r(2)=0.57), suggesting that sediment organic carbon content played an important role in controlling the PAHs levels in the sediments. According to the observed molecular indices, PAHs contamination in Lanzhou Reach of Yellow River originated both from the high-temperature pyrolytic processes and from the petrogenic source, showing a mixed PAH input pattern, which was also confirmed by the results of a principal component analysis (PCA). According to the numerical effect-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) of the United States, the levels of PAHs at most studied sites in Lanzhou Reach of Yellow River should not exert adverse biological effects. Although at some sites (such as S10, S12, etc.) one PAH may exceed the effects range low (ERL), individual PAH did not exceed the effects range median (ERM). The results indicated that sediments in all sites should have potential biological impact, but should have no impairment.     

Dioxin cycling in aquatic sediments: the Passaic River Estuary

The contribution of dechlorination reactions to the transformation of dioxins in river sediments was evaluated under a range of geochemical conditions mimicking freshwater, estuarine and marine environments, and interpreted in the light of recent evidence for their accumulation at the air-water interface. The yield of dechlorinated products increased with salinity, but never exceeded 20% of the initial dioxins present. Among the homologue groups in saline conditions, diCDDs were dominant at 32-47 mol% (8-16 nM). The production of 2,3,7,8-TCDD increased with decreasing salinity and in the presence of dissolved organic matter, exhibiting a maximum ratio (2,3,7,8-TCDD:non-2,3,7,8-TCDD) of 0.5. These differences in patterns may be related to the dominant microbial respiratory processes responsible for carbon turnover under the imposed conditions, and are strongly affected by the presence of organic matter. Based on these results, a conceptual dechlorination and carbon turnover model is proposed to help explain the likely reactivity of dioxins in the Passaic River Estuary.     

Dechlorination after thermal treatment of a TCE-contaminated aquifer: laboratory experiments

A microcosm study was conducted to evaluate dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) to ethene and survival of dechlorinating bacteria after a thermal treatment in order to explore the potential for post-thermal bioremediation. Unamended microcosms containing groundwater and aquifer material from a contaminated site dechlorinated TCE to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), while lactate-amended microcosms dechlorinated TCE to cDCE or ethene. A thermal treatment was simulated by heating a sub-set of microcosms to 100 degrees C for 10d followed by cooling to 10 degrees C over 150 d. The heated microcosms demonstrated no dechlorination when unamended. However, when amended with lactate, cDCE was produced in 2 out of 6 microcosms within 300 d after heating. Dechlorination of TCE to cDCE thus occurred in fewer heated (2 out of 12) than unheated (10 out of 12) microcosms. In unheated microcosms, the presence of dechlorinating microorganisms, including Dehalococcoides, was confirmed using nested PCR of 16S rRNA genes. Dechlorinating microorganisms were detected in fewer microcosms after heating, and Dehalococcoides were not detected in any microcosms after heating. Dechlorination may therefore be limited after a thermal treatment in areas that have been heated to 100 degrees C. Thus, inflow of groundwater containing dechlorinating microorganisms and/or bioaugmention may be needed for anaerobic dechlorination to occur after a thermal treatment.     

Distribution characteristics and source analysis of dioxins in sediments and mussels from Qingdao coastal sea

Seven of surface sediments, one sediment core and two mussel samples were collected from the Qingdao coastal sea of the western Yellow Sea and analyzed to determine the horizontal distribution, deposition flux, and toxicity equivalency (TEQs) of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). The total PCDD/Fs concentrations in the surface sediments ranged between 10.7 and 428 ng kg(-1) dry wt. The horizontal distribution of PCDD/F congeners in the sediments was characterized by elevated concentrations at the locations in the east of Jiaozhou Bay with the highest concentration occurring near the Haibo River mouth. Physical parameters (total organic carbon contents and sediment types) and the current circulation systems in Jiaozhou Bay can be important factors controlling the horizontal distribution pattern of PCDD/Fs in the bay. The influence of the Haibo River as a source of pollution was evidenced by PCDD/F homologue profiles, indicating a contribution from sewage sludge in addition to other possible sources. Records from the sediment core revealed that the total PCDD/Fs in the Qingdao coastal sea were nearly constant since 1951 till 1980s and increased remarkably after 1980s. The total 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs and total TEQs of PCDD/Fs on the lipid basis in the mussel sample inside the bay were significantly higher than in the adjacent sediment. The homologue profiles of PCDD/Fs in the mussels were quite different from those of the sediments, characterized by high TCDF (50% of the total PCDD/Fs).     

PCB dechlorination hotspots and reductive dehalogenase genes in sediments from a contaminated wastewater lagoon

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that are distributed worldwide. Although industrial PCB production has stopped, legacy contamination can be traced to several different commercial mixtures (e.g., Aroclors in the USA). Despite their persistence, PCBs are subject to naturally occurring biodegradation processes, although the microbes and enzymes involved are poorly understood. The biodegradation potential of PCB-contaminated sediments in a wastewater lagoon located in Virginia (USA) was studied. Total PCB concentrations in sediments ranged from 6.34 to 12,700 mg/kg. PCB congener profiles in sediment sample were similar to Aroclor 1248; however, PCB congener profiles at several locations showed evidence of dechlorination. The sediment microbial community structure varied among samples but was dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The relative abundance of putative dechlorinating Chloroflexi (including Dehalococcoides sp.) was 0.01–0.19% among the sediment samples, with Dehalococcoides sp. representing 0.6–14.8% of this group. Other possible PCB dechlorinators present included the Clostridia and the Geobacteraceae. A PCR survey for potential PCB reductive dehalogenase genes (RDases) yielded 11 sequences related to RDase genes in PCB-respiring Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CG5 and PCB-dechlorinating D. mccartyi strain CBDB1. This is the first study to retrieve potential PCB RDase genes from unenriched PCB-contaminated sediments.     

Effect of soil and sediment composition on acetochlor sorption and desorption

Background, aim, and scope  Herbicide fate and its transport in soils and sediments greatly depend upon sorption–desorption processes. Quantitative determination of herbicide sorption–desorption is therefore essential for both the understanding of transport and the sorption equilibrium in the soil/sediment–water system; and it is also an important parameter for predicting herbicide fate using mathematical simulation models. The total soil/sediment organic carbon content and its qualitative characteristics are the most important factors affecting sorption–desorption of herbicides in soil or sediment. Since the acetochlor is one of the most frequently used herbicides in Slovakia to control annual grasses and certain annual broad-leaved weeds in maize and potatoes, and posses various negative health effects on human beings, our aim in this study was to investigate acetochlor sorption and desorption in various soil/sediment samples from Slovakia. The main soil/sediment characteristics governing acetochlor sorption–desorption were also identified. Materials and methods  The sorption–desorption of acetochlor, using the batch equilibration method, was studied on eight surface soils, one subsurface soil and five sediments collected from the Laborec River and three water reservoirs. Soils and sediments were characterized by commonly used methods for their total organic carbon content, distribution of humus components, pH, grain-size distribution, and smectite content, and for calcium carbonate content. The effect of soil/sediment characteristics on acetochlor sorption–desorption was examined by simple correlation analysis. Results  Sorption of acetochlor was expressed as the distribution coefficient (K _d). K _d values slightly decreased as the initial acetochlor concentration increased. These values indicated that acetochlor was moderately sorbed by soils and sediments. Highly significant correlations between the K _d values and the organic carbon content were observed at both initial concentrations. However, sorption of acetochlor was most closely correlated to the humic acid carbon, and less to the fulvic acid carbon. The total organic carbon content was found to also significantly influence acetochlor desorption. Discussion  Since the strong linear relationship between the K _d values of acetochlor and the organic carbon content was already released, the corresponding K _oc values were calculated. Considerable variation in the K _oc values suggested that other soil/sediment parameters besides the total soil organic carbon content could be involved in acetochlor sorption. This was revealed by a significant correlation between the K _oc values and the ratio of humic acid carbon to fulvic acid carbon (C_HA/C_FA). Conclusions  When comparing acetochlor sorption in a range of soils and sediments, different K _d values which are strongly correlated to the total organic carbon content were found. Concerning the humus fractions, the humic acid carbon content was strongly correlated to the K _d values, and it is therefore a better predictor of the acetochlor sorption than the total organic carbon content. Variation in the K _oc values was attributed to the differences in distribution of humus components between soils and sediments. Desorption of acetochlor was significantly influenced by total organic carbon content, with a greater organic carbon content reducing desorption. Recommendations and perspectives  This study examined the sorption–desorption processes of acetochlor in soils and sediments. The obtained sorption data are important for qualitative assessment of acetochlor mobility in natural solids, but further studies must be carried out to understand its environmental fate and transport more thoroughly. Although, the total organic carbon content, the humus fractions of the organic matter and the C_HA/C_FA ratio were sufficient predictors of the acetochlor sorption–desorption. Further investigations of the structural and chemical characteristics of humic substances derived from different origins are necessary to more preciously explain differences in acetochlor sorption in the soils and sediments observed in this study.     

Correlation of gas chromatographic properties of chlorobenzenes and polychlorinated biphenyls with the occurrence of reductive dechlorination by untamed microorganisms

To understand the dechlorination ability of chlorobenzenes (CBs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by untamed microorganisms under anaerobic condition and to correlate gas chromatographic properties with the occurrence of reductive dechlorination, introduction of CBs and PCBs in the culture medium inoculated with microorganisms from sludge and sediment, respectively, were performed. Three kinds of culture media preparing from sludge, river water and a synthetic medium were used in the experiments. HCB was degraded to 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene (1,3,5-TCB) and 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB) in both sludge medium and synthetic medium with inoculated microorganisms. Three PCB congeners including 2,3,4-, 3,4,5- and 2,3,4,5-CBp (chlorinated biphenyl) were not found to be dechlorinated in the river water medium with inoculation culture but to be dechlorinated in the synthetic medium. MNDO methodology was used to compute theoretical dechlorination reaction heats and GC-ECD techniques were used to estimate chromatographic data of CB and PCB congeners. Both CB and PCB congeners showed that dechlorination by untamed microorganisms under anaerobic mixed cultures were more likely to occur when larger amounts of energy were released and greater deltaln RRT value between the parent congener and the daughter product was observed. Deltaln RRT provided a more precise information on the singularity of PCBs ortho-dechlorination in an aspect of thermodynamic favorable rule.     

Effects of Fe2O3, organic matter and carbonate on photocatalytic degradation of lindane in the sediment from the Liao River,China

Fourteen sediment samples with different content of Fe₂O₃ were collected from the lower reaches of the Liao River in China. The photodegradation of lindane on the surfaces of these sediments was investigated to observe the effects of Fe₂O₃ and other photoinducable substances, such as TiO₂ and organic substances, on photodegradation of lindane. A partial least-squares (PLS) analysis model was developed to find out the statistical relationship between the photodegradation and the contents of these photoinducable substances. It was concluded from the PLS analysis that inorganic carbon and organic carbon have negative effects, whereas Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ accelerate the photodegradation of lindane in the sediment samples when 365 nm UV light was used as light source. In all cases of the experiments, the photodegradation of lindane in the sediment samples were fitted for pseudo-first-order kinetics.