[The relationship between abiotic factors and microbial activities of microbial eco-system in contaminated soil with petroleum hydrocarbons]

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2004 May;25(3):110-4.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

By means of the biostimulation and bioaugmentation in the micro-ecological environment of contaminated soil with petrochemical hydrocarbons, the biodegradation rates and mode of the contaminants were significantly improved. Based on the investigations carried out in some oilfields and petrochemical industrial area of Northern China, the relationship between the abiotic factors such as nutrient, pH, contaminants, water content, alkalinity, etc., and microbial activities was interpreted and identified in this paper. The results from the investigations and indoor and in-situ experiments conducted recent years indicated that the soils in the areas, to the extent, have been polluted by the different kinds of organic compounds composed of monoaromatic benzene, PAHs, chlorinated solvent, and alkanes, and the concentrations of the compounds mostly were elevated as compared to the background, with the highest 34,000 mg/kg dry soil. The column chromatography analysis results showed that the alkyl and aromatic compounds were accounted for more than 50% of the total hydrocarbon contents, which was readily degraded by degrading bacteria and improved the degrading microbe activities. The effective nitrogen and phosphorus encountered in the soil was less than 30 mg/kg dry soil and 10 mg/kg dry soil, only about 5% of total contents of them respectively. Based on the stoichiometric calculation and reasonable ratio of carbon to nutrient content regarding the biodegradation of organic compounds, the nutrient levels mainly composed of nitrogen and phosphorus in polluted soil as importantly limiting factors to degrading bacterial growth and activity were insufficient to the biodegradation of petrochemicals, and it is needed to add the nutrient for the bioremediation of contaminated soil. It is undoubted that the optimization of abiotic factors play significant role in increasing the microbial activity and improving the biodegradation rates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Ecosystem
  • Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Hydrocarbons / metabolism*
  • Petroleum / analysis*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / metabolism*
  • Soil Microbiology*
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis
  • Soil Pollutants / metabolism*

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons
  • Petroleum
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Soil Pollutants