Biological degradation of PCBs in soil. A kinetic study

摘要

In this paper a kinetic study is made of the biodegradability of Aroclor 1242 in sandy soil employing a mixed culture of acclimatized bacteria. The assays were done in stirred tank reactors, and the biodegradation process was monitored by High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC) with Electron Capture Detector. These results are supported by other indirect measurements and indicators of the existence of microbial degradation process, as well as the parameters for the control of the process. The biodegradation occurred as a first order process and it proved most effective in respect of dichlorinated (100% removal), followed by trichlorinated (92%) and tetrachlorinated biphenyls (24%).