TY - JOUR

T1 - Biogenic volatile organic compounds as a potential stimulator for organic contaminant degradation by soil microorganisms.

AU - McLoughlin, Emma

AU - Rhodes, Angela

AU - Owen, Susan M.

AU - Semple, Kirk T.

PY - 2009/1

Y1 - 2009/1

N2 - The effects of monoterpenes on the degradation of 14C-2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) were investigated in soils collected from areas surrounding monoterpene and non-monoterpene-emitting vegetation. Indigenous microorganisms degraded 14C-2,4-DCP to 14CO2, after 1 d contact time. Degradation was enhanced by prior exposure of the soils to 2,4-DCP for 32 d, increasing extents of mineralisation up to 60%. Monoterpene amendments further enhanced 2,4-DCP degradation, but only following pre-exposure to both 2,4-DCP and monoterpene, with total 2,4-DCP mineralisation extents of up to 71%. Degradation was greatest at the higher monoterpene concentrations (≥1 μg kg−1). Total mineralisation extents were similar between concentrations, but higher than the control and the 0.1 μg kg−1 amendment, indicating that increases in monoterpene concentration has a diminishing enhancing effect. We suggest that monoterpenes can stimulate the biodegradation of 2,4-DCP by indigenous soil microorganisms and that monoterpene amendment in soils is an effective strategy for removing organic contaminants. A amendment of soils with monoterpenes may induce organic contaminant degradation by indigenous soil microorganisms.

AB - The effects of monoterpenes on the degradation of 14C-2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) were investigated in soils collected from areas surrounding monoterpene and non-monoterpene-emitting vegetation. Indigenous microorganisms degraded 14C-2,4-DCP to 14CO2, after 1 d contact time. Degradation was enhanced by prior exposure of the soils to 2,4-DCP for 32 d, increasing extents of mineralisation up to 60%. Monoterpene amendments further enhanced 2,4-DCP degradation, but only following pre-exposure to both 2,4-DCP and monoterpene, with total 2,4-DCP mineralisation extents of up to 71%. Degradation was greatest at the higher monoterpene concentrations (≥1 μg kg−1). Total mineralisation extents were similar between concentrations, but higher than the control and the 0.1 μg kg−1 amendment, indicating that increases in monoterpene concentration has a diminishing enhancing effect. We suggest that monoterpenes can stimulate the biodegradation of 2,4-DCP by indigenous soil microorganisms and that monoterpene amendment in soils is an effective strategy for removing organic contaminants. A amendment of soils with monoterpenes may induce organic contaminant degradation by indigenous soil microorganisms.

KW - Mineralisation

KW - Biodegradability

KW - 2

KW - 4-Dichlorophenol

KW - Monoterpenes

KW - α-Pinene

KW - Limonene

KW - Ageing soils

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.029

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.029

M3 - Journal article

VL - 157

SP - 86

EP - 94

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

SN - 0269-7491

IS - 1

ER -