The degradation of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (C-PAHs and NC-PAHs) in Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund soil was investigated. This soil was subjected to different types of treatment: a) untreated soil submerged in water (U); b) treated soil mixed with 8% of biogenic fishbone apatite (T); c) T soil amended with different amounts of iron (III) oxide: 6% (T+Fe6), 12% (T+Fe12), and 18% (T+Fe18). The soil samples were analyzed 6 years after the amendments. Degradation of both types of PAHs was significantly greater under anaerobic conditions in the U-soil compared with other types of amendments. The addition of Fe2O3 to the T-soil resulted in reduced degradation of C-PAHs. For NC-PAHs, the increase in Fe2O3 to 12% significantly increased their degradation. Further elevation of Fe2O3 significantly reduced the degradation of NC-PAHs. This finding indicates that NC- and C-PAHs might be degraded via different pathways or by different types of microorganisms.

Role of iron in degradation of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated with heavy metals soil

246th National Meeting (2013)

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