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Effect of C/N/P ratio and nonionic surfactants on polychlorinated biphenyl biodegradation

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Abstract

This work investigated whether polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) removal from a highly contaminated soil (7000-p.p.m.) could be enhanced by manipulating the carbon to nitrogen to phosphorus (C/N/P) ratio, and by nonionic surfactant addition. A Box–Behnken statistical experimental design was used to evaluate the combined effect of surfactant type, surfactant concentration, and C/N/P ratio in a relatively short treatment period (35 days). The variable with the greatest effect on PCB degradation was the type of surfactant used. Higher PCB removal efficiencies (39–60%) were obtained with Tween 80 (compared to Tergitol NP 10 and Triton X-100). This was attributed to its lower critical micelle concentration. Higher C/N/P ratios (increased by biphenyl addition) significantly stimulated the soil heterotrophic activity without enhancing PCB removal. This suggests that nonionic surfactants have a greater potential to enhance bioremediation of PCB-contaminated soil than efforts to enhance the soil heterotrophic activity through nutrient and analogue substrate addition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Depto. de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, CINVESTAV, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico

    N.G. Rojas-Avelizapa & R. Rodríguez-Vázquez

  2. Depto. de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

    S. Saval-Bohorquez

  3. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Iowa, USA

    P.J.J. Alvarez

Authors
  1. N.G. Rojas-Avelizapa
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  2. R. Rodríguez-Vázquez
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  3. S. Saval-Bohorquez
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  4. P.J.J. Alvarez
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Rojas-Avelizapa, N., Rodríguez-Vázquez, R., Saval-Bohorquez, S. et al. Effect of C/N/P ratio and nonionic surfactants on polychlorinated biphenyl biodegradation. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 16, 319–324 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008973209013

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