Study of PAH dissipation and phytoremediation in soils: Comparing freshly spiked with weathered soil from a former coking works

Smith, M.J. , Flowers, T.H., Duncan, H.J. and Saito, H. (2011) Study of PAH dissipation and phytoremediation in soils: Comparing freshly spiked with weathered soil from a former coking works. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 192(3), pp. 1219-1225. (doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.06.033)

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Abstract

A comparison was made between the dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil freshly spiked with pure PAHs, soil spiked with a coal tar mixture and a contaminated soil from a former coking works where the PAHs had been present for more than a century. The potential of five selected plant species for phytoremediation was investigated. The levels of all 7 PAHs in chemically amended soil, both planted and unplanted, fell significantly (>80% reduction) over the 12 weeks of the growing trial. In the coal tar treated soils all PAHs were significantly reduced. In both the planted and unplanted soils the 2-3 ringed compounds demonstrated much greater loss (>77%) than the 4-6 ringed (16-39%). The 3-4 ringed compounds demonstrated strong evidence of phytoremediation but not the 5-6 ringed. The coking soil showed limited reduction (7-24%) of all 12 PAHs present. There was little difference in dissipation between the PAHs and little evidence of a phytoremediation effect in coking soil. The results demonstrated that the form in which PAHs were added to soil influenced their susceptibility to dissipation. Therefore, predictions of PAH dissipation from laboratory amended soil do not reflect the true situation in the field.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Smith, Dr Margaret and Flowers, Dr Hugh
Authors: Smith, M.J., Flowers, T.H., Duncan, H.J., and Saito, H.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > History of Art
Journal Name:Journal of Hazardous Materials
ISSN:0304-3894
Published Online:20 June 2011

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