THE MICROBIAL RESPIRATION QUOTIENT AS INDICATOR FOR BIOREMEDIATION PROCESSES

The respiration quotient (Q(R)) calculated from the actual (R(A)) and potential respiration rate (R(p)) after addition of glucose (Q(R) = R(A)/R(P)) was compared with the PAH concentration of a contaminated site during bioremediation. A correlation coefficient of 0.997 was obtained. Comparison with respiration quotients of several contaminated and uncontaminated sites gives evidence that the quotient is a suitable indicator for easily biodegradable carbon sources in the soil and presents an adequate quick and easily determinable indicator for the efficiency of bioremediation processes.