Microbial activity during composting of anthracene-contaminated soil

Y. Ma, J. Y. Zhang, M. H. Wong*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microbial activity of an anthracene-spiked soil mixed with kitchen waste during laboratory composting at 56-59 °C was studied using an in-vessel technology. The effect of old compost containing acclimated microorganisms on the composting efficiency was also investigated. Microbial succession, microbial enzyme activity, microbial diversity and anthracene removal rate were analyzed during 42 days of composting. The results demonstrated that inoculating with old compost increased the amounts of thermophilic microorganisms, but did not significantly increase anthracene removal. A microbial succession from mesophilic bacteria to thermophilic bacteria and thermophilic actinomycetes was observed during composting. Polyphenol oxidase activity decreased while catalase activity varied irregularly. Microbial diversity increased drastically when temperature elevated from 35 to 56 °C, but decreased when temperature maintained at 56-59 °C.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1505-1513
Number of pages9
JournalChemosphere
Volume52
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2003

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

User-Defined Keywords

  • Anthracene
  • Composting
  • Microbial activity

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