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Microbial Release and Degradation of Catechol and Chlorophenols Bound to Synthetic Humic Acid
Author(s) -
Dec Jerzy,
Bollag JeanMarc
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1988.03615995005200050030x
Subject(s) - humus , chemistry , humic acid , pentachlorophenol , catechol , xenobiotic , environmental chemistry , tributyltin , degradation (telecommunications) , incubation , microbial biodegradation , organic chemistry , biochemistry , soil water , bacteria , microorganism , enzyme , ecology , biology , fertilizer , telecommunications , genetics , computer science
The binding of xenobiotics of humus occurs continuously in nature, and it is possible that this reaction can also be used for decontamination of the environment. It is not yet clear, however, to what extent the release of xenobiotics from humus may cause a delayed pollution problem. To evaluate this question, 14 C‐labeled catechol ( o ‐dihydroxybenzene), 4‐chlorophenol, 2,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,4,5‐trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol bound to synthetic humic acid polymer were incubated with microbial soil populations, and the evolution of 14 CO 2 and release of radioactive compounds into the medium was monitored. The quantity of 14 CO 2 evolved varied with the source of the inocula and the chemical structure of the compound under investigation. After 13 wk of incubation, 14 CO 2 evolution ranged from 1.2 to 10.0% of the initially bound radioactivity. Radioactive substances, which were released into the media mostly in the form of the unchanged compound, varied from 0.4 to 12.4% of the initially bound radioactivity. Most radioactivity (54.7–88.9%) remained bound to the synthetic humic acid, suggesting that once chlorophenols are incorporated into humus their release is very slow and unlikely to adversely affect the environment.