The effect of temperature on biodegradation, sorption and transport of toluene in soil.

摘要

The effect of temperature on biodegradation, sorption and transport of toluene was studied in batch and column tests under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A silty soil tested for sorption isotherms exhibited little change in distribution coefficients with the temperature increased from 22°C to 60°C.; Using inoculum from an aerobic aquifer, microcosm tests revealed that aerobic toluene biodegradation rates increased with increasing temperatures over the temperature range 22°C to 60°C. However, in column tests, biodegradation occurred faster at lower temperatures due to oxygen limitations. In subsequent column tests with a methanogenic consortium at 22°C, 35°C and 50°C, toluene biodegradation was only slightly greater at 35°C than at 22°C, while reduced activity was observed at 50°C. The results of the study indicate that for toluene and the silty soil tested, there is little benefit to be gained by raising soil temperatures through subsurface heating.