Slurry Phase Biological Treatment of Latosol Contaminated with Phthalates, Adipate, and Alcohols

AbstractThis study evaluated the slurry phase biological treatment of a latosol, collected at a contaminated site from a plasticizers industry, containing high concentrations of alcohols, phthalates, and dioctyl adipate. The test was carried out in a bioreactor open to atmosphere with the sludge from the industrial wastewater treatment plant at 18–26°C during 120 days. The dynamics of the microbial populations during biodegradation were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The results suggested that the genera Pseudomonas and Gordonia polyisoprenivorans were the dominant populations until 30 days, Corynebacterium, between 30 and 90 days, and Corynebacterium and Gordonia polyisoprenivorans after 90 days. The addition of sludge and water in the reactor improved the phthalates and adipate bioavailability, initially present in the plasticized soil, and consequently, the pollutant’s removal efficiencies were above 90%. The 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, a toxic metabolite of ...