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Effect of Nutrient Amendments on Indigenous Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in Oil‐Contaminated Beach Sediments
Author(s) -
Xu Ran,
Obbard Jeffrey P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2003.1234
Subject(s) - biodegradation , nutrient , environmental chemistry , biostimulation , bioremediation , biomass (ecology) , petroleum , sediment , chemistry , seawater , environmental science , contamination , ecology , geology , biology , paleontology , organic chemistry
Nutrient amendment to oil‐contaminated beach sediments is a critical factor for the enhancement of indigenous microbial activity and biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the intertidal marine environment. In this study, we investigated the stimulatory effect of the slow‐release fertilizers Osmocote (Os; Scotts, Marysville, OH) and Inipol EAP‐22 (Ip; ATOFINA Chemicals, Philadelphia, PA) combined with inorganic nutrients on the bioremediation of oil‐spiked beach sediments using an open irrigation system with artificial seawater over a 45‐d period. Osmocote is comprised of a semipermeable membrane surrounding water‐soluble inorganic N, P, and K. Inipol, which contains organic N and P, has been used for oil cleanup on beach substrate. Nutrient concentrations and microbial activity in sediments were monitored by analyzing sediment leachates and metabolic dehydrogenase activity of the microbial biomass, respectively. Loss of aliphatics ( n ‐C 12 to n ‐C 33 , pristane, and phytane) was significantly greater (total loss between 95 and 97%) in oil‐spiked sediments treated with Os alone or in combination with other nutrient amendments, compared with an unamended oil‐spiked control (26% loss) or sediments treated with the other nutrient amendments (28–65% loss). A combination of Os and soluble nutrients (SN) was favorable for the rapid metabolic stimulation of the indigenous microbial biomass, the sustained release of nutrients, and the enhanced biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in leached, oil‐contaminated sediments.