Enhancement of orimulsion biodegradation through the addition of natural marine carbon substrates

Orimulsion is a bitumen-based heavy fuel that is a less expensive alternative to traditional fuel oils. However, because its density is intermediate between that of freshwater and seawater, in the event of a spill, the fuel could strand in the sediments. Previous work indicated that only 0.6-2.7% of the bitumen would degrade in long incubations of marine sediments. We added various natural carbon substrates to stimulate the degradation of bitumen by native populations of benthic bacteria. The concentration and carbon isotopic signature of the respired carbon dioxide was measured to partition the substrates that supported bacterial respiration. We found that the addition of seagrass and pinfish stimulated the degradation of bitumen by as much as 2-9-fold relative to incubations without these substrates. Biodegradation of bitumen may be enhanced by the addition of natural marine carbon substrates and may be a useful approach for bioremediation. Preadaptation of the bacteria to bitumen did not significantly enhance their ability to degrade it.     

Sequential chemical oxidation and aerobic biodegradation of equivalent carbon number-based hydrocarbon fractions in jet fuel

Remediation of petroleum mixtures is complicated by the differing environmental degradabilities of hundreds of individual hydrocarbons in the mixtures. By grouping the individual hydrocarbons into a few fractions based on equivalent carbon number (EC), the present study examined the chemical and biological degradation of the fractions. With or without prechemical oxidation (25 days) by three oxidants (KMnO4, H202, MgO2), sterile and live microcosms were constituted with aquifer samples for aerobic biodegradation (134 days) of JP-4 jet fuel. Eighty-seven hydrocarbons were recovered and grouped into nine EC fractions. The apparent removal and actual transformation rate constants were estimated for both chemical and biological degradations. The data show that prechemical oxidations facilitated removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) (up to 80%) within shorter times (<50 days) than biological alone. KMnO4 and H202 were better oxidants in terms of mass reduction in shorter times yet to some extent inhibited the subsequent microbial activity. MgO2 was a moderate oxidant with less inhibition of microbial activity. Selective degradation of the EC fractions was observed for both chemical and biological processes. The biological processes were much less effective than the prechemical oxidations in transforming aromatic fractions, the more toxic fractions. The favorable substrates (i.e., aliphatic EC approximately 10) for microbial growth were also those most subject to chemical oxidation. The results suggest that for remediation of petroleum contaminants, sequential chemical and biological technologies may surpass biological alone and more moderate oxidants such as MgO2 may be better candidates. More work is needed on the optimal dose and residence time for applied oxidants and on the application to engineering design and formulation of cleanup standards.     

Stimulation of pyrene mineralization in freshwater sediments by bacterial and plant bioaugmentation

As a means to study the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in freshwater sediments, pyrene mineralization was examined in microcosms spiked with [14C]pyrene. Some microcosms were planted with reeds (Phragmites australis) and/or inoculated with a pyrene-degrading strain, Mycobacterium sp. 6PY1. Mineralization rates recorded over a 61 d period showed that reeds promoted a significant enhancement of pyrene degradation, which possibly resulted from a root-mediated increase of oxygen diffusion into the sediment layer, as indicated by in situ redox measurements. In inoculated microcosms, mineralization reached a higher level in the absence (8.8%) than in the presence of plants (4.4%). Mineralization activity was accompanied by the release of water-soluble pyrene oxidation products, the most abundant of which was identified as 4,5-diphenanthroic acid. Pyrene was recovered from plant tissues, including stems and leaves, at concentrations ranging between 40 and 240 microg/g of dry mass. Plants also accumulated labeled oxidation products likely derived from microbial degradation. Pyrene-degrading strains were 35-70-fold more abundant in inoculated than in noninoculated microcosms. Most of the pyrene-degrading isolates selected from the indigenous microflora were identified as Mycobacterium austroafricanum strains. Taken together, the results of this study show that plants or PAH-degrading bacteria enhance pollutant removal, but their effects are not necessarily cumulative.     

Controlled release of nitrate and sulfate to enhance anaerobic bioremediation of phenanthrene in marine sediments

Experimental measurements demonstrated that rates of in situ microbial anaerobic biodegradation of phenanthrene in undisturbed marine sediments were enhanced when controlled-release electron acceptors (i.e., nitrate and sulfate (for comparison)) were employed. The experimental method used whole and interval cores injected with radiolabeled 14C-phenanthrene, which were incubated, sacrificed, and processed for 14CO2 recovery to determine degradation rates. Nitrocellulose and CaSO4 were formulated to release the electron acceptors into the sediments at rates consistent with bacterial utilization (i.e., that avoided inhibition observed previously at high soluble nitrate (although not sulfate) concentrations). The controlled-release of both compounds, measured in collateral experiments, enhanced the natural anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation rates by factors up to 2-3. Biodegradation via sulfate reduction was most rapid in the early stages (24 days) of experiments, consistent with reports that many marine bacteria in submerged sediments are sulfate reducers. In comparison, in longer experiments (after 42 days), the anaerobic biodegradation rates were observed at least as high with the addition of nitrocellulose (over 40% of added phenanthrene recovered as 14CO2). Both nitrate and sulfate reduction was observed during anaerobic incubation, although the presence of nitrate seemed to reduce the sulfate reduction. The studied forms of the controlled-release nitrate and sulfate may provide capping amendments to decontaminate marine harbor sediments.     

Distributed sequestration and release of PAHs in weathered sediment: the role of sediment structure and organic carbon properties

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated sediments from Piles Creek (PC) and Newtown Creek (NC) in the NY/NJ Harbor estuary were separated into size fractions and further separated into low (<1.7 g cm(-3)) and high (>1.7 g cm(-3)) density fractions. The fractionated sediments were characterized for carbon content pore structure, surface area, and PAH concentration. Most PAHs (50-80%) in both sediments were associated with the low-density fraction, which represents only 3-15% of total sediment mass, at levels greater than expected based on equilibrium partitioning. PC low-density sediment had 10 times greater organic carbon-normalized equilibrium partitioning coefficients (Koc) than the other size fractions and whole sediment. Characterization of the sediment organic matter suggested that the preferential sequestration observed in PC sediment was not correlated with soot carbon but was likely due to the presence of detrital plant debris, an important food source for benthic animals. Fractional PAH desorption from whole PC sediment was significantly higher than from NC sediment after 3 months. For both sediments, a smaller percentage of the total PAHs was desorbed from the low-density fraction. However, because PAH concentrations were greatly elevated in these fractions, more PAH mass was desorbed than from the corresponding bulk and high-density fractions. These results demonstrate that PAHs are preferentially sequestered in a separable, low-density fraction at levels not predictable by equilibrium partitioning theory. Further, the low-density fraction apparently controls whole-sediment PAH release. Although plant debris appears to be an important sorbent for PAHs, this material may readily release PAHs into the aqueous phase.     

Sorption of phenanthrene by nonhydrolyzable organic matter from different size sediments

Nonhydrolyzable organic carbon (NHC) and sorption isotherms of phenanthrene (Phen) on six size-fractionated NHC fractions in two sediments from the Pearl River and Estuary, South China, were investigated. It was found that NHC including ancient organic carbon, black carbon, resistant aquatic organic carbon, and aged soil organic carbon consists mainly of aliphatic and aromatic carbon using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The sorption isotherms of Phen by the size-fractionated NHC fractions are nonlinear and are well-fitted to the Freundlich model. For the estuary sediment, the NHC contents and the organic carbon-normalized distribution coefficients (Koc) in the size fractions increase with decreasing particle size. The clay NHC fraction contributes to 70% of the Phen sorption by the bulk NHC isolate. However, for the contaminated river sediment, the NHC contents and the Koc values exhibit no regular variations among the size fractions. The Phen sorption capacities on the size-fractionated NHC fractions of the two sediments are significantly related to their H/C ratios and aliphatic carbon, but negatively to aromatic carbon. The fine-particle NHC fractions with high aliphatic carbon and H/C ratio play a very important role in the sorption, transport, and fate of Phen by the investigated sediments.     

Monitoring the primary biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates and their coproducts in anoxic sediments using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

An accompanying article has demonstrated the anaerobic degradation of the surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in microcosms filled with marine sediments through the generation of sulfophenylcarboxylic acids (SPCs). A detailed study shows that this process was uniform in the blanks (non-spiked natural sediments) for every LAS homologue during the complete course of the experiment. However, when sediments were spiked with commercial LAS and, therefore, enriched with short-chain homologues, degradation was enhanced for these homologues until their percentages were close to those for non-spiked sediments. The reason is that short-chain homologues are more bioavailable due to their higher solubility and lower sorption capacity. Thus, sorption on sediments was found to be increased with the length of the alkyl chain for LAS homologues, following a linear Freundlich isotherm, whereas the metabolites generated were predominant in solution due to their much higher polarity. Intermediate-chain SPC homologues (C7-C9 SPCs) were the most abundant during the experiment, but a significant increase in the concentration of shorter-chain SPC homologues (C4-C6 SPCs) was detected toward the end. In the case of isomers, the steric effect of the aromatic group implies that LAS primary degradation took place preferentially over external isomers. Therefore, the generation of external isomers of SPCs was predominant during the complete experiment although internal isomers of SPCs became more evident when the degradation process had advanced and external isomers of LAS became scarce. The identity of both types of SPC isomer was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. With respect to LAS coproducts, the relative percentage of iso-LAS increased during the complete experiment and removal percentages for dialkyl tetralinsulfonates (<30%) were typically lower that those for LAS (66-79%), although a similar behavior was observed for their homologues in both cases.     

Anaerobic,sulfate-dependent degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum-contaminated harbor sediment

It has previously been demonstrated that [14C]-labeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be oxidized to 14CO2 in anoxic, PAH-contaminated, marine harbor sediments in which sulfate reduction is the terminal electron-accepting process. However, it has not previously been determined whether this degradation of [14C]-PAHs accurately reflects the degradation of the in situ pools of contaminant PAHs. In coal tar-contaminated sediments from Boston Harbor, [14C]-naphthalene was readily oxidized to 14CO2, but, after 95 d of incubation under anaerobic conditions, there was no significant decrease in the detectable pool of in situ naphthalene in these sediments. Therefore, to better evaluate the anaerobic biodegradation of the in situ PAH pools, the concentrations of these contaminants were monitored for ca. 1 year during which the sediments were incubated under conditions that mimicked those found in situ. There was loss of all of the PAHs that were monitored (2-5 ring congeners), including high molecular weight PAHs, such as benzo[a]pyrene, that have not previously been shown to be degraded under anaerobic conditions. There was no significant change in the PAH levels in the sediments amended with molybdate to inhibit sulfate-reducing bacteria or in sediments in which all microorganisms had been killed with glutaraldehyde. In some instances, over half of the detectable pools of in situ 2-3 ring PAHs were degraded. In general, the smaller PAHs were degraded more rapidly than the larger PAHs. A distinct exception in the Boston Harbor sediment was naphthalene which was degraded very slowly at a rate comparable to the larger PAHs. In a similar in situ-like study of fuel-contaminated sediments from Liepaja Harbor, Latvia, there was no decline in PAH levels in samples that were sulfate-depleted. However, when the Latvia sediments were supplemented with sufficient sodium sulfate or gypsum to elevate pore water levels of sulfate to approximately 14-25 mM there was a 90% decline in the naphthalene and a 60% decline in the 2-methylnaphthalene pool within 90 days. These studies demonstrate for the first time that degradation by anaerobic microorganisms can significantly impact the in situ pools of PAHs in petroleum-contaminated, anoxic, sulfate-reducing harbor sediments and suggest that the self-purification capacity of contaminated harbor sediments is greater than previously considered.     

香粳8618米饭重要香成分的鉴定

以栽培于江苏苏南地区的香粳8618为材料,碾米机加工稻谷成糙米,糙米用水蒸煮,借助装于玻璃管中的Porapak Q吸附剂富集米饭挥发性成分,重蒸乙醚洗脱吸附性,局醚洗脱液分别用盐酸、碳酸氢钠、氢氧化钠的稀落液处理,得到挥发性物质的中性、弱酸性、酸性和碱性组分,经嗅感评定重要香成分存在于碱性组分中,碱性组分浓缩后,由GC进行分析,进行柱后感官评定,确定香成分峰的香气特征和位置,GC－MS测定重要呈香化合物的质谱图,经人工解析,确定为2－乙酰基吡咯啉,同时,以2－乙酰基吡咯为原料进行人工合成印证,合成2－乙酰基吡咯啉与前者在气味特征,质谱图方面均相吻合,最终确认2－乙酰基吡咯啉是香粳8618米饭的重要呈香成分。     

Investigation of the role of structural domains identified in sedimentary organic matter in the sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds

The role of composition and structure of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in the sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) was investigated by spiking 13C-labeled phenanthrene onto six estuarine sediments known to vary in SOM content and character. After equilibration and HF treatment, 13C NMR cross polarization and stable carbon isotope analyses indicated that the amount of desorption-resistant phenanthrene was related to aromatic carbon content. Application of the 13C NMR spectral editing technique proton spin relaxation editing (PSRE) demonstrated that all samples consisted of a rapidly relaxing and a slowly relaxing component, further evidence that SOM can be described as a structurally heterogeneous sorbent. Further, comparison of corresponding control and spiked PSRE subspectra revealed that, for each of the six sediments, desorption-resistant phenanthrene had become associated almost exclusively with the rapidly relaxing component. In only two of the sediments were there even small amounts of phenanthrene discernible in the slowly relaxing component, which is signficant as it was not always true that aromatic carbon was concentrated exclusively in the rapidly relaxing phase. The implication of these findings is that not all aromatic fractions have the same affinity for phenanthrene and that some fractions may indeed have little affinity at all. These results were interpreted as indicative that rapidly relaxing aromatic carbon associated with either sediment-associated charcoal or diagenetic organic matter plays a controlling role in the sorption of HOCs. However, the exact manner in which this rapidly relaxing aromatic phase relates to models presented elsewhere remains unclear.     

The role of condensed carbonaceous materials on the sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants in subsurface sediments

The identification and characterization of carbonaceous materials (CMs) that control hydrophobic organic chemical (HOC) sorption is essential to predict the fate and transport of HOCs in soils and sediments. The objectives of this paper are to determine the types of CMs that control HOC sorption in the oxidized and reduced zones of a glacially deposited groundwater sediment in central Illinois, with a special emphasis on the roles of kerogen and black carbon. After collection, the sediments were treated to obtain fractions of the sediment samples enriched in different types of CMs (e.g., humic acid, kerogen, black carbon), and selected fractions were subject to quantitative petrographic analysis. The original sediments and their enrichment fractions were evaluated for their ability to sorb trichloroethene (TCE), a common groundwater pollutant. Isotherm results and mass fractions of CM enrichments were used to calculate sorption contributions of different CMs. The results indicate that CMs in the heavy fractions dominate sorption because of their greater mass. Black carbon mass fractions of total CMs in the reduced sediments were calculated and used to estimate the sorption contribution of these materials. Results indicate that in the reduced sediments, black carbon may sequester as much as 32% of the sorbed TCE mass, butthat kerogen and humin are the dominant sorption environments. Organic carbon normalized sorption coefficients (K(oc)) were compared to literature values. Values for the central Illinois sediments are relatively large and in the range of values determined for materials high in kerogen and humin. This work demonstrates the advantage of using both sequential chemical treatment and petrographic analysis to analyze the sorption contributions of different CMs in natural soils and sediments, and the importance of sorption to natural geopolymers in groundwater sediments not impacted by anthropogenic sources of black carbon.     

杨木BECMP质育苗钵自然降解的研究

为了研究自然降解对挤压法漂白化机浆(BECMP)质育苗钵强度和钵体剩余量的影响及降解后对土壤的改良程度,采用自然条件降解,研究了杨木BECMP质育苗钵的降解规律和降解后对土壤的改良效果。结果表明:杨木BECMP质育苗钵在降解40d后强度下降较快,而钵体剩余量在30d前减少较快,与废纸泥炭育苗钵相当。钵体降解后土壤孔隙率从35.69%增加到40.86%;土壤含水率从9.19%增加到12.28%。实验表明BECMP质育苗钵具有较好的可降解性,降解前期强度保持较好,对土壤结构有一定的改良作用。     

Characterization of water-soluble organic carbon in urban atmospheric aerosols using solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy

Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the distribution of carbon functional groups in urban Atlanta aerosol fine (PM2.5) particles. Carbonaceous aerosol particles comprise a significant fraction of the ambient particle mass and are environmentally significant as they may influence radiative and cloud-nucleating properties and can also produce adverse health effects upon inhalation. The water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) fraction was extracted from multiple 24 h integrated high-volume quartz filter samples and further separated into recovered hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions using an approach similar to that used to extract humic and fulvic acids from aqueous samples. Solid-state 13C NMR results indicate that WSOC in urban atmospheric aerosol particles is mostly aliphatic in nature (approximately 95% by C mass) with major contributions from alkyl and oxygenated alkyls (approximately 80%), carboxylic acid (approximately 10%), and aromatic functional groups (approximately 4%). The aromatic C is associated with the recovered hydrophobic fraction of WSOC. These spectra have been compared to the 13C NMR results obtained from Suwannee River humic acid and a fractionated biomass burning sample. WSOC, and more importantly, its recovered hydrophobic fraction, is found to be only qualitatively similar to aqueous humic material. The biomass burning sample is significantly different from urban Atlanta WSOC and is composed of substantial amounts of sugar derivatives and phenolic compounds, as expected. The NMR results demonstrate the potential of this technique to investigate aerosol WSOC composition and to study its variations with changes in parameters such aerosol sources.     

Strong sorption of phenanthrene by condensed organic matter in soils and sediments

The nonhydrolyzable carbon (NHC) and black carbon (BC) in three contaminated soils and seven sediments from the Pearl River Delta and Estuary, China, were isolated upon treatments with an acid hydrolysis method and with a combustion method at 375 degrees C, respectively, and their sorption isotherms for phenanthrene (Phen) were established. It was found that NHC is chemically and structurally different from the biopolymer and humic substances and consists mainly of aliphatic and aromatic carbon using elemental analysis, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR), and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). All the sorption isotherms are nonlinear and are well fitted by the Freundlich model. The single-point organic carbon-normalized distribution coefficient (K(oc)) measured for the isolated NHC is 1.3-7.7 times higher than that for the bulk samples at the same aqueous concentration of Phen. The NHC fractions play a dominant role to the overall sorption in the bulk samples. The bulk soils and their NHC fractions have lower sorption capacity than the bulk sediments and their NHC fractions, relating to the different source of organic matter between soils and sediments. The Phen sorption capacity in the NHC samples is related significantlyto H/C ratios and aliphatic carbon, but negatively to aromatic carbon, demonstrating the important role of aliphatic carbon to the Phen sorption and the fate in the investigated soils and sediments.     

鱿鱼眼透明质酸及其降解产物的抗氧化和保湿作用

以鱿鱼眼中提取的透明质酸及其降解产物为研究对象,测定不同相对分子质量(Mr)透明质酸的保湿作用以及对Fe3+的还原能力、1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)自由基和羟自由基(·OH)的清除能力。结果表明：透明质酸及其降解产物的保湿性均优于甘油,随着Mr的增加,保湿能力逐渐增强,其中HA-2组分保湿率达到92.66%;不同Mr的透明质酸均有一定的抗氧化作用,其抗氧化活性随着Mr的降低而增大,Mr为6000以下的透明质酸表现出较强的清除自由基能力,而未降解的透明质酸组分HA-1和HA-2的抗氧化能力较弱。     

Fate of a 14C-labeled nonylphenol isomer in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor

This study aimed at giving a better insight into the possible fate of nonylphenol (NP) during wastewater treatment by using a lab-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) designed and optimized for fate studies carried out with radiolabeled compounds. After a single pulse of 14C-labeled-NP isomer (4-[1-ethyl-1,3-dimethylpentyl]phenol) as radiotracer, the applied radioactivity was monitored in the MBR system over 34 days. The mass balance of NP residues at the end of the study showed that 42% of the applied radioactivity was recovered in the effluent as degradation products of NP, 21% was removed with the daily excess sludge from the MBR, and 34% was recovered as adsorbed in the component parts of the MBR. A high amount of NP was associated to the sludge during the test period, while degradation compounds were mainly found in the effluent. Partial identification of these metabolites by means of HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry coupled to radio-detection showed they are alkyl-chain oxidation products of NP. The use of this MBR and a radiolabeled test compound was found suitable for demonstrating that under the applied conditions, the elimination of NP through mineralization and volatilization processes (both less than 1%) was negligible. However, the removal of NP via sorption and the continuous release of oxidation products of NP in permeate were of relevance.     

Process improvement for semipurified oleosomes on a pilot-plant scale

Semipurified oleosomes were isolated on a pilot-plant scale using improved-process extraction conditions. The improved process consisted of continuous centrifugation in a three-phase decanter with recirculation of slurry until most of the oleosomes were recovered. Oleosome fractionation, oleosin identification, and isoflavone and saponin mass distributions and recoveries were investigated. The improved pilot-plant oleosome extraction process was achieved in 8 h. A total of 91%± 1% of soybean oil was recovered as intact oleosomes. The oil content of the aqueous supernatant and the residue fractions were low at 2% and 3%, respectively. The aqueous supernatant fraction contained 40% total soybean protein. About 76% of the proteins present in the oleosome fraction were soybean storage proteins. Washing the semipurified oleosomes with a 0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 8.6 containing 0.4 M sucrose, and 0.5 M NaCl resulted in the recovery of the associated storage proteins. The recovery of these proteins in addition to the protein in aqueous supernatant accounted for 79% of the total soybean storage proteins fractionated by this process. Oleosins were detected at 17 and 18 kDa. Isoflavones and saponins partitioned into the oleosome, aqueous supernatant, and residue fractions at different ratios with the majority, about 82 and 63 mole%, respectively, in oleosome and aqueous supernatant fractions, making these fractions an attractive source for phytochemicals.     

Anaerobic degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates in coastal marine sediments

This research shows for the first time the degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) under anaerobic conditions, together with the presence of metabolites and the identification of microorganisms involved in this process. This compound is the most widely used surfactant and its main environmental concern is related to its persistence in the absence of oxygen as LAS accumulates in anaerobic sediments and sewage sludges. Laboratory experiments performed with anoxic marine sediments spiked with 10-50 ppm of LAS demonstrated, however, that its degradation reached 79% in 165 days via the generation of sulfophenyl carboxylic acids (SPCs). Almost all of the added LAS (>99%) was found to be attached to the sediment while the less hydrophobic SPCs were predominant in solution, as their concentration increased progressively up to 3 ppm during the full course of the experiment. Average half-life for LAS has been estimated to be 90 days, although higher values should be expected when the LAS concentration exceeds 20 ppm, due to inhibition of the microbial community. Sulfate-reducing and methanogenic activities proved to be intense during the experiment. Several sulfate-reducing bacteria and firmicutes/clostridia have been identified as possible candidates for effecting this degradation. Our results imply that the persistence of LAS in anoxic compartments, such as marine sediments, should be reconsidered when evaluating its environmental risk.     

Impact of vegetation on sedimentary organic matter composition and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon attenuation

Results from natural and engineered phytoremediation systems provide strong evidencethatvegetated soils mitigate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. However, the mechanisms by which PAH mitigation occurs and the impact of plant organic matter on PAH attenuation remain unclear. This study assessed the impact of plant organic matter on PAH attenuation in labile and refractory sediments fractions from a petroleum distillate waste pit that has naturally revegetated. Samples were collected in distinct zones of barren and vegetated areas to assess changes to organic matter composition and PAH content as vegetation colonized and became established in the waste pit. Sediments were fractionated into bulk sediment and humin fractions and analyzed for organic matter composition by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (delta (13)C), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), delta 14C AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry), and percent organic carbon (%TOC). Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/ MS) of lipid extracts of SOM fractions provided data for PAH distribution histograms, compound weathering ratios, and alkylated and nonalkylated PAH concentrations. Inputs of biogenic plant carbon, PAH weathering, and declines in PAH concentrations are most evidentfor vegetated SOM fractions, particularly humin fractions. Sequestered PAH metabolites were also observed in vegetated humin. These results show that plant organic matter does impact PAH attenuation in both labile and refractory fractions of petroleum distillate waste.     

Biological Degradation of Chlorophyll in a System Using Bell Peppers (Capsicum frutescens)

SUMMARY– A degradation system was developed based on the incorporation of radioactive chlorophyll into a ripening bell pepper carpel.
Pure chlorophyll a in aqueous triton X-100 injected into green bell peppers ( Capsicum frutescens ) variety 035 was degraded up to 50% by the end of ripening, versus a control in buffer pH 5.4 not exceeding 7% loss in 2 weeks. Variety and stage of ripeness affected the amount of degradation.
Labeled chlorophyll a with a specific activity of 7 to 8 × 10⁵ dpm/mg was then prepared from young wheat plants, fed ¹⁴Cob and injected in amounts of 0.2 to 0.3 mg. The distribution of activity in pepper extracts after pigment degradation was evaluated. The acetone water extract remaining after transfer of lipid material to petroleum ether acquired activity within 2 days of injection, but the amount remains fairly constant for 12 days. The activity of the extraction residue, and of an 80% ethanol extract thereof, increased throughout the experiment. The residue containing increasing amounts of protein had the largest amount of radioactivity of the three fractions at the conclusion of the experiment.
Preliminary chromatography did not yield isolated radioactive products.
Extracts of pepper show no activity when substituted for soybean extract in a system containing chlorophyll and linoleic acid.
The degradation of chlorophyll by ripening bell peppers provides a tool for further studies for degradation in a physiological system.
Labeling facilitates isolation, identification, and establishment of origin of small amounts of breakdown products.