05.03.2014 Views

C - Lublin

C - Lublin

C - Lublin

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Only minor amounts of 14 C-TNT (1-2%) were mineralized to 14 CO 2 in both<br />

treatments. Almost all the disappeared extractable 14 C-TNT was detected as bound<br />

14 C. However, the process of TNT binding occurred much faster and was more<br />

extensive in the AC-amended soil compared to the control. The bound 14 C-<br />

products were very resistant to solvent extraction. Practically no 14 C-products were<br />

released from the amended soil after 3 or 4 sequential extractions with acetonitrile.<br />

Plant tissues contained no more than 0.5% of the initially added<br />

14 C,<br />

demonstrating low accumulation of TNT and its products in corn plants growing<br />

in contaminated soil amended with AC.<br />

Microbial toxicity of TNT was indicated by a greater than 50% decrease in<br />

platable heterotrophic microorganisms in soils containing 1000 or 2000 mg<br />

TNT/kg. Similarly, the activated carbon reduced the phytotoxicity of TNT in the<br />

soil. While corn plant growth was severely inhibited in TNT-contaminated soil,<br />

their growth characteristics in AC-amended soil (TNT contaminated or<br />

uncontaminated) were similar to the uncontaminated control. The results<br />

corresponded to minimal phytotoxic concentration of TNT in solution in<br />

experiments with corn and tall fescue seedlings growing in hydroponics culture at<br />

presence of TNT. Their growth began to decline negligibly at 5 mg TNT/l while<br />

growth was inhibited or the seedling died at a higher concentration [3].<br />

The next mechanism of accelerated detoxification of TNT in the AC-amended<br />

soil was suggested. The activated carbon promoted strong binding of TNT to soil<br />

matrix in two steps. First, some of the adsorbed TNT was quickly bound to AC<br />

through catalytic oxidation and polymerization of the oxidized products. Then the<br />

remaining TNT that was reversibly adsorbed to AC was microbially (and<br />

chemically) transformed to reduction products, which were bound to soil humus<br />

and likely polymerized with the TNT oxidation products. TNT oxidation in the<br />

amended soil presents evidences of strong oxidative properties of AC. It probably<br />

plays the role of catalyst that promotes formation of active oxygen containing<br />

species (OH-radical and others) on the AC surface including its intraporous spaces.<br />

The suggested mechanism of TNT binding in AC-amended soil is presented in [4].<br />

The bound TNT products were shown to be nontoxic to heterotrophic soil<br />

microorganisms and plants.<br />

Detoxification of PCB. First positive results have been received when<br />

adsorptive bioremediation was applied for soils highly contaminated with<br />

polychlorinated byphenils (PCB) (C 0 =200-4000 mg/kg). Amendment of PCB<br />

contaminated soil with activated carbon sharply decreased their concentration and<br />

soil toxicity. Bio- and phytotoxicity of the treated soil reduced to minimal levels<br />

after 2 month’ incubation, while low reduction of PCB concentration and toxicity<br />

153

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!