@inproceedings{bb5a5a0812294880b243ed2ae3da3ba2,
title = "Solubilization and biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in microemulsions",
abstract = "A pilot batch study was performed to investigate the feasibility of using microemulsions to enhance the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Oil in water (O/W) microemulsions composed of Tween-80, 1-pentanol and linseed oil significantly enhanced the apparent solubility of phenanthrene (PHE) up to 110.5 mg L-1 as compared to treatment with Tween-80 alone due to the additional solubilization of PHE in the oil phase of microemulsions, Batch incubation experiment showed that biodegradation of PHE by Bacillus subtilis B-UM in aqueous system was inhibited in the presence of Tween-80 while microemulsion composed of 0.4\% Tween-80, 0.1\% 1-pentanol and 0.05\% linseed oil significantly enhanced its biodegradation up to 46.7\% in 18 days. Natural composting of PAH contaminated soil on the other hand could remove 47.6\% and 14.6\% of PHE and benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) respectively while inoculation of B-UM together with the addition of Tween-80 increased the removal of B[a]P to 42.2\%. The combined addition of microemulsion and inoculation of B-UM significantly increased the biodegradation of B[a]P and PHE with 63.6\% and almost 100\%, respectively. The results affirm that microemulsion is more effective than surfactants in facilitating the biodegradation of PAHs under thermophilic composting condition which provides a potential novel approach to remediate soil contaminated with PAHs.",
keywords = "Biodegradation, Microemulsions, PAHs, Solubility, Surfactant",
author = "Wong, \{Jonathan W C\} and Zhao, \{Z. Y.\} and J. Yang and Wong, \{S. Y.\}",
note = "Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.; IASTED International Conference on Environmental Management and Engineering, EME 2009 ; Conference date: 06-07-2009 Through 08-07-2009",
year = "2009",
language = "English",
isbn = "9780889867970",
series = "Proceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Environmental Management and Engineering, EME 2009",
pages = "218--223",
booktitle = "Proceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Environmental Management and Engineering, EME 2009",
}