ENHANCED MINERALIZATION OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN NONAQUEOUS-PHASE LIQUIDS

Biodegradation of phenanthrene, biphenyl, or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate initially present in a variety of nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs) was slow in samples of soil and aquifer solids. The NAPLs were hexadecane, dibutyl phthalate, 2,2,4,4, 6,8,8-heptamethylnonane, cyclohexane, commercial oils, crude oil, creosote, and kerosene. Slurrying the soil or aquifer solids markedly enhanced the rate and extent of mineralization of the test compounds initially in many of the NAPLs. Both the low rate and the extent of mineralization of the three compounds initially in dibutyl phthalate in soil slurries and of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in heptamethylnonane present in slurries of aquifer solids were increased by inoculation of acclimated microbial cultures. Increasing the NAPL volume decreased phenanthrene biodegradation in soil, but the effect of larger NAPL volume could be alleviated by slurrying and inoculation. The rate or extent of mineralization in aquifer slurries of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate initially in some NAPLs was increased by addition of N and P, and inoculation further enhanced the degradation.