有机溶剂对有机氯农药污染场地土壤淋洗修复效用研究

Problems associated with organochlorine pesticide (OCP)-contaminated sites in China have received wide attention. To solve such problems, innovative ex-situ methods of site remediation are urgently needed. We investigated the feasibility of the extraction method with different organic solvents, ethanol, 1-propanol, and three fractions of petroleum ether, using a soil collected from Wujiang (WJ), China, a region with long-term contamination of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs). We evaluated different influential factors, including organic solvent concentration, washing time, mixing speed, solution-to-soil ratio, and washing temperature, on the removal of DDTs from the WJ soil. A set of relatively better parameters were selected for extraction with 100 mL L 1 petroleum ether (60-90℃): washing time of 180 min, mixing speed of 100 r min 1 , solution-to-soil ratio of 10:1, and washing temperature of 50℃. These selected parameters were also applied on three other seriously OCP-polluted soils. Results demonstrated their broad-spectrum effectiveness and excellent OCP extraction performance on the contaminated soils with different characteristics.     

Washing agents from sewage sludge: efficiency of Cd removal from highly contaminated soils and effect on soil organic balance

Purpose

To compare Cd removal from different soils with three washing agents recovered from sewage sludge (dissolved organic matter (DOM), soluble humic-like substances (HLS), soluble humic substances (SHS)). Also, to investigate how washing with these agents changes soil organic-matter composition (OM).

Materials and methods

Sandy clay loam (S1) and clay (S2) highly contaminated with Cd (300 mg kg^?1) were washed with DOM, HLS, or SHS solutions at various pHs, and with various washing times and washing modes (single or double). Cd distribution and OM composition were determined (including content of humic substances (HS), fulvic fraction (FF), labile humic acids (L-HA), and stable humic acids (S-HA)).

Results and discussion

Cd removal proceeded with pseudo-second-order kinetics. Equilibrium was reached in 30 min (S1) and 60 min (S2). DOM, HLS, and SHS removed 75–82% of Cd from S1, and 80–87% from S2. The most mobile fraction of Cd was removed after one wash. S2 retained more OM, including HS, than S1. Although washing did not change the HA/FF ratio in most variants, washing with DOM and HLS increased the percentage of L-HA in both soils. Washing with SHS increased S-HA content in both soils, but the percent content of S-HA was similar to that in the unwashed soil.

Conclusions

DOM, HLS, and SHS derived from sewage sludge can effectively remediate clay and sandy clay soils highly contaminated with Cd. Washing with an SHS solution can increase the content of the most stable carbon forms (HA), which is beneficial for carbon sequestration in remediated soils.

     

纳米磺化石墨烯用于异位洗脱污染土壤多环芳烃工艺的优化

Ex-situ soil washing technology offers advantages such as speed and efficiency of remediation and range of application and has been developed to conform with legal requirements and best management practices in USA and some European countries. In this study,nano-sulfonated graphene(SGE) was used as a washing agent to evaluate different processing(washing) parameters for the ectopic leaching removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) from a coking plant soil. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) were used to analyze the characteristics of the SGE tested. The results showed that SGE had a strong adsorption capacity for PAHs through the role of π-π, H-π, and anion-π interactions. The washing parameters, an SGE concentration of 2 000 mg L~(-1), a liquid/soil(L/S) ratio of 10:1, and 4 cycles of successive washing, were set to arrive to the optimum condition for achieving more than 80% of PAH removal. Under the optimum condition, the PAH removal rate decreased with increasing ring numbers. After one washing cycle at SGE concentration of 2 000 mg L~(-1) and L/S ratio of 10:1, the PAH removal rate of the SGE tested was much higher than that of Tween 80(TW80) or methyl-β-cyclodextrin(MCD)(P 0.01). Therefore, SGE is a promising material for the nanoremediation of PAH-contaminated soils.     

持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法修复研究进展

持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法是污染场地土壤物化修复方法中一种常用的技术。淋洗法是指运用特定淋洗剂对污染土壤进行深度洗涤,通过分离净化淋洗剂,实现回用集成,达到去除土壤中污染物的目的,并最终安全化处置污染物和修复土壤的过程。本文根据污染场地土壤处理位置、淋洗剂种类和淋洗剂施用方式的差异,将持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法划分为不同的种类;总结了为达到高效去除土壤中污染物质,可运用多级淋洗方式、超声方式、电动力方式和化学氧化等方式实现强化修复效率;阐述了污染场地土壤质地、污染物性质、淋洗剂性质、淋洗条件优化以及淋洗剂回用效率等因素对淋洗修复整体效用的显著影响;同时指出了目前持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法存在的问题和今后国内外研究和应用的方向。综合考虑土壤淋洗修复技术适用范围和成本因素,认为淋洗法是一种较符合我国持久性有机污染场地土壤实情的修复技术,具有较强的针对性和较广泛的运用前景。     

Anaerobic Biodegradation of Pyrene by Paracoccus denitrificans Under Various Nitrate/Nitrite-Reducing Conditions

The recovery of Tween 80 from a liquid residue, obtained after washing of a contaminated soil with p-Cresol, was studied by selective adsorption of p-Cresol with activated carbons. A modified expression of the Langmuir equation was succesfully used to predict the adsorption isotherms of p-Cresol in the absence and presence of different surfactant concentrations. The presence of surfactant seems to modify the adsorption equilibrium, but it does not produce any significant influence on the adsorption kinetic of p-Cresol. A mathematical model was developed to predict the optimum activated carbon dosage demanded to reduce the p-Cresol concentration as a function of the surfactant concentration, also obtaining the corresponding surfactant loss. The regenerated solution was favorably used as washing solution in a new contaminated soil. These results indicate that this technique can be adequate to recover the surfactant solution, with a relatively minimal loss, for a subsequent application.     

磺化石墨烯对土壤中镉的异位淋脱修复效果

土壤异位淋洗技术具有修复速度快、效果好、适用范围广等优势,在欧美等国家已形成较为完善的法律体系与方法体系。本研究针对Cd污染土壤,以磺化石墨烯(SGO)作为一种淋洗剂,探讨磺化石墨烯在不同淋脱条件下对Cd污染土壤的异位修复效果。结果表明:磺化石墨烯对土壤中Cd的最优淋脱参数为洗脱浓度为4 000 mg/L,液土比为10︰1,连续淋洗4次,其土壤中Cd的去除率可达50%。同时还发现磺化石墨烯对不同类型土壤中Cd的洗脱效率存在明显差异,即与土壤黏粒含量、铁铝及其游离态含量、Cd有效态含量等因素有关。与常见洗脱剂(如Fe Cl3、CaCl_2)相比,在相同条件下磺化石墨烯洗脱1次后,土壤中Cd的去除率达24.7%,明显高于Fe Cl3(17.9%)(P0.05)和CaCl_2(9.1%)(P0.01)。可见,磺化石墨烯对Cd污染土壤具有更好的洗脱修复效果。     

土壤重金属生物淋滤修复过程中廉价碳源的筛选研究

在室内模拟实验条件下,重点研究了一步和二步生物淋滤过程中黑曲霉利用各种廉价碳源替代蔗糖产酸修复重金属污染土壤的效果。结果发现,杨树叶、桃树叶、土豆皮去除重金属效果较好。其中杨树叶对冶炼厂土壤中重金属去除率分别为Cu63．5％、Cd100％、Pb16．8％和Zn27％;桃树叶去除效果分别为Cu61．8％、Cd100％、Pb14．6％和Zn28．5％;土豆皮去除效果分别为Cu61％、Cd100％、Pb10．6％和Zn34％。廉价碳源的使用可降低污染土壤生物淋滤修复成本。     

表面活性剂与EDTA对紫色土镉的化学行为影响

Elemental composition and geochemical characteristics of iron-manganese nodules from nine main soils in China were studied by chemical and multivariate statistical analyses to better understand the reactions and functions of ironmanganese nodules in soils and sediment. Compared to the corresponding soils, Mn, Ba, Cd, Co and Pb had strong accumulation, Ni had moderate accumulation, while Ca, Cu, Fe, Na, P, Sr and Zn accumulated to a minor degree in the iron-manganese nodules. In contrast, Si, Al, K, Mg and Ti were reduced in the iron-manganese nodules. The contents of Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were positively and significantly correlated with that of MnO2 in the iron-manganese nodules, while the contents of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were positively and significantly correlated with that of Fe2O3 in soils. Based on a principle component analysis, the elements of iron-manganese nodules were divided into four groups： 1） Mn, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb and Zn that were associated with Mn oxides, 2） Fe, Cr and P that were associated with Fe oxides, 3） Si, K, and Mg that were included in the elemental composition of phyllosilicate, and 4） Ca, Na, Al and Ti that existed in todorokite, birnessite, lithiophorite and phyllosilicate. It was suggested that accumulation, mineralization and specific adsorption were involved in the formation processes of soil iron-manganese nodules.     

Surfactant-Enhanced Removal of Cu (II) and Zn (II) from a Contaminated Sandy Soil

Batch tests were conducted to know the effectiveness of using surfactants only and surfactants with a complexing agent to remove Cu (II) and Zn (II) from an artificially contaminated sandy soil. SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), AOT (alpha-olefin sulfonate) and Tx-100 (Triton X-100) were the surfactants selected as the washing liquids. Complexing agent EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) was also selected for washing the soil. To avoid external factors from interfering with the cleaning process, artificial soil formed by a mixture of clean sand and bentonite was used to form contaminated soil samples. The amount of organic matter present was insignificant. Compared to extraction by distilled water, tests indicated that a six-fold increase in copper extraction occurred due to the presence of surfactants and/or the complexing agent EDTA. Compared to extraction by distilled water, zinc extraction by surfactants and or the complexing agent EDTA was nearly 1.2 to 1.3 times more. Effects of competition as well as interference associated with the adsorption and desorption of these metals are also very briefly reported.     

Remediation of a Diesel Contaminated,Sandy-Loam Soil Using Low Concentrated Surfactant Solutions (5 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope   Surfactant enhanced ex-situ soil washing can be used to remediate diesel contaminated soils. Surfactants enhance the diesel removal from soils by two processes: mobilization and solubilization. Mobilization occurs at surfactant concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), while solubilization occurs at surfactant concentrations beyond the CMC of the surfactant. In this paper, the leaching of diesel from a self contaminated (10 000 mg diesel/kg) sandy-loam soil was studied using low concentrated non-ionic surfactant solutions of Tergitol NP-10 (10-6 to 10-3 mol/L). Methods   The surface tension of the supernatant solutions of soil suspensions in non-ionic surfactant (Tergitol NP-10) solutions (10-6 to 10-3 mol/L) was measured to determine the total surfactant concentration (surfactant sorbed onto the soil + surfactant in solution) at which micelles are present in the water phase of the soil suspension, or 'effective critical micelle concentration' (ECMC), and to calculate the sub-CMC sorption isotherm of Tergitol NP-10 onto the soil. The diesel removal was measured by soil leaching experiments with Tergitol solutions ranging from 10-6 to 10-3 mol/L. Results and Discussion   The sub-CMC sorption isotherm of Tergitol onto the soil could be described by the Freundlich equation. Even at very low surfactant concentrations (10-6 mol/L) the surfactant enhanced the diesel removal from the soil. Up to the surfactants' ECMC the diesel removal increased in a linear way with an increasing surfactant concentration in the wash water. A significant part (20%) of the diesel oil was removed in the presence of surfactant, but in absence of micelles. Beyond the surfactants' ECMC, the increase in diesel removal efficiency with increasing surfactant concentration was less pronounced. When the added surfactant concentration was increased to 10-3 mol/L, which corresponds to an equilibrium surfactant concentration in the supernatant solution (6.77.10-4 mol/L) above the CMC, the diesel oil removal was increased up to 50%. At this surfactant concentration emulsion formation was observed. Conclusion   Surfactant aided leaching of diesel from a self-contaminated, sandy-loam soil with surfactant solutions below their ECMC was able to remove in one step 20% of diesel from the soil by the mobilization mechanism. Succesive treatments or continuous leaching with surfactant solutions below their ECMC was not studied but is likely to reduce the diesel contamination further and at the same time avoid problems with emulsion formation.     

磁性黏土颗粒对污染土壤中镉去除作用的初步研究

农田土壤中镉（Cd）污染备受关注，亟需开发出可以在土壤中快速去除Cd的修复材料与方法。磁性黏土矿物吸附材料因具有重金属吸附容量高和便于回收再利用等特点已成为当前土壤修复净化方面的研究热点。本研究使用了一种毫米级磁性黏土颗粒吸附材料测试其对土壤Cd的去除性能，材料记为巯基改性凹凸棒@沸石（MSAZ）。通过对不同类型人工模拟Cd污染土实验表明，材料最佳施用量为MSAZ:土壤质量比1:5，此时在人工模拟污染红壤中0.43 mol/L HNO3提取态Cd的单次材料施用去除率高达95%，在人工模拟的棕壤和黑土也可达75%-80%。通过对实际的Cd高背景旱地土壤和Cd污染水稻土的去除实验表明，MSAZ对这两种土壤中0.43 mol/L HNO3提取态Cd的首次施用去除率均约40%；经过五次重复利用后，MSZA对污染水稻土中0.43 mol/L HNO3提取态Cd的累积去除率可达98%，并且该材料依然保持着85%的吸附能力，回收率仍高于80%。本研究的磁性黏土颗粒具有较强的土壤Cd去除性能和应用潜力，可为农田土壤Cd污染的原位修复提供材料及技术支持。     

不同pH值混合螯合剂对土壤重金属淋洗及植物提取的影响

为了得出混合螯合剂（MC）淋洗去除重金属的最佳pH值以及对后续植物提取重金属的影响,用Ca(OH)2将pH值为2.75的MC提高至pH值5、7和9,对重金属污染土壤进行了盆栽淋洗试验,而后种植东南景天（Sedum Alfredii）,测定淋出液及植物重金属含量。另外,通过浸提试验研究了含有不同阳离子的MC对重金属淋洗效果的影响。结果表明,pH值为5和7的MC显著提高了Cd、Pb和Cu的淋出率。与Na+、K+离子相比,Ca2+的存在能够提高MC对重金属的淋洗去除。pH值7和9的MC淋洗土壤后提高了东南景天的生物量,但是降低东南景天中Cd和Zn的浓度,导致其植物提取率低于无淋洗剂对照。在化学淋洗+植物提取联合技术中,Cd和Zn主要靠植物提取去除,植物提取率分别可达土壤Cd的30%～40%和土壤Zn的6.5%～6.9%;而Pb和Cu主要靠混合螯合剂淋洗去除,去除率分别为2.3%～2.6%和1.6%～2.0%。综合来说,如果需要同时去除Cd、Zn、Pb和Cu,降低土壤重金属有效态含量,用pH值9的MC淋洗土壤联合植物提取较为合适。     

土壤养分状况系统研究法在土壤肥力研究及测土施肥中的应用

土壤养分状况系统研究法应用美国国际农化中心的ASI联合浸提液(0.25mol/L NaHCO3-0.01mol/L EDTA-0.01mol/L NH4F)测定土壤中11种大、中、微量元素含量,结合土壤对营养元素的吸附研究和盆栽试验,判断土壤中存在的和潜在的养分限制因子,用以指导田间试验和施肥推荐。在全围17个省(市、自治区)范围内选取了140个土壤样品,应用该方法对土壤养分状况进行了研究。盆栽试验结果表明,土壤中氮、磷、钾、锌、硫、铜、硼、锰、钼、镁、钙和铁成为限制因子的土壤分别为137、126、84、68、45、37、36、34、28、25、20和17个。应用Cate和Nelson的方法估计出11种元素(钼除外)测定值在盆栽条件下的临界值。 应用在原取土地块安排的田间试验的资料估计出大田条件下应用ASI联合浸提液测定的土壤磷、钾含量的临界值分别为15mg/L和90mg/L。应用河北省玉田县试验和示范资料建立的计算机测土施肥模型综合考虑了土壤中各种营养元素的综合平衡和土壤对磷、钾的吸附固定能力。     

多氯联苯污染土壤的紫云英–根瘤菌联合修复效应

选用紫云英(Astragalus sinicus L.)作为宿主植物,通过盆栽试验研究了接种紫云英根瘤菌(Rhizobium huakuii)对多氯联苯污染土壤的修复效应。结果表明,经过100天的修复作用后,单接种根瘤菌、种植紫云英以及紫云英接种根瘤菌处理土壤中多氯联苯的去除率分别为20.5%、23.0%、53.1%,均显著高于对照处理(P<0.01)。而且发现接种根瘤菌显著增加了紫云英根际土壤的微生物生物量碳、氮,明显增强了土壤微生物群落的碳源利用能力,从而改善了微生物群落功能多样性。可见,紫云英–根瘤菌共生体对多氯联苯污染土壤表现出较好的修复潜力。     

淋洗法修复铬渣污染场地实验研究

铬渣污染场地已经列为我国土壤污染重点治理对象,急需修复铬渣污染土壤的关键技术。本文通过室内模拟实验,采用振荡淋洗的方法研究了水、EDTA、EDDS、柠檬酸、草酸、盐酸、磷酸、环糊精和十二烷基苯磺酸钠等淋洗剂对铬渣污染场地Cr的淋洗效果,探讨了淋洗剂浓度、淋洗时间、土水比、淋洗次数等对淋洗效果的影响,并研究了不同淋洗剂复合对Cr的淋洗效果以及不同浓度柠檬酸淋洗前后重金属形态的变化。结果表明：水、EDTA、EDDS、环糊精和十二烷基苯磺酸钠对Cr的去除率较低,柠檬酸在浓度为0.5mol·L-1、土水比1：20、反应时间为24h、淋洗次数为2次的条件下可以达到最佳淋洗效果,Cr的去除率可达到82.8%;SDBS、EDTA与柠檬酸单独组合顺序或者混合淋洗,都没有增加柠檬酸对Cr的去除率。重金属形态分析表明,柠檬酸淋洗有效地改变了Cr的形态从而达到较高的修复效果。当柠檬酸浓度小于0.25mol·L-1时,对铬的去除主要以C（rⅥ）为主;当柠檬酸浓度大于0.25mol·L-1时,对铬的去除主要以C（rⅢ）为主。本文的研究结果为异位淋洗修复铬渣污染土壤提供理论依据。     

Remediation of Lead Contaminated Soils by Stabilization/Solidification

Most available remediation technologies for treatment of heavymetal contaminated soils are very expensive and result in residues requiring further treatment. Stabilization/solidification (immobilization) techniques however, which aredesigned to decrease leaching potential of heavy metals from soil by addition of chemical additives, provide very cost-effective solutions for heavy metal contaminated soils. Thisstudy investigates the most efficient additive for immobilization of lead. To achieve this goal, several leachingexperiments were conducted for mixtures of different additives(lime, activated carbon, clay, zeolite, sand and cement) withartificially Pb contaminated (spiked) soil samples in accordancewith the Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure (TCLP) developed by U.S. EPA. Results showed that among the additivestried, activated carbon, clay, zeolite and sand are not very efficient for Pb immobilization. On the other hand, lime andcement are significantly effective in Pb immobilization with 88% efficiency at 1:21 lime:soil ratio and 99% efficiency at1:15 cement:soil ratio, respectively.     

茶叶皂角用于提高大豆油-水体系洗脱修复焦化厂土壤中多环芳烃、Cd、Ni的可行性研究

Mixed contaminated brownfield sites have brought serious risks to human health and environmental safety. With the purpose of removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and heavy metals from a coking plant site, an innovative technology for ex-situ washing was developed in the present work. The combination of 15.0 mL L~(-1) soybean oil and 7.5 g L~(-1) tea saponin proved an effective method to extract co-pollutants from soil. After two consecutive washing cycles, the efficiency rates of removal for 3-, 4-,5(+6)-ring, and total PAHs, Cd, and Ni were approximately 98.2%, 96.4%, 92.3%, 96.3%, 94.1%, and 89.4%, respectively. Meanwhile,as evaluated by Tenax extraction method and metal stability indices, the residual PAHs and heavy metals after consecutive washing mainly existed in the form with extremely low bioaccessibility in the soil. Thus, in the soil after two washing cycles, there appeared limited environmental transfer risk of co-pollutants. Moreover, a subsequent precipitation method with alkaline solution and PAHdegrading strain Sphingobium sp. PHE9 inoculation effectively removed 84.6%–100% of Cd, 82.5%–91.7% of Ni, and 92.6%–98.4% of PAHs from the first and second washing solvents. The recovered solvents also exhibited a high recycling effectiveness. Therefore, the combined cleanup strategy proposed in this study proved environmentally friendly, which also played a major role in risk assessment and management in mixed polluted sites.     

Sorption behavior of triazole fungicides in Indian soils and its correlation with soil properties

Adsorption-desorption of triazole fungicides, hexaconazole [2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4,-triazol-1-yl) hexan-2-ol], triadimefon [1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) butan-2-one], and penconazole[1-(2,4-dichloro-beta-propyl phenethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole] was studied in five Indian soils using batch method. The adsorption isotherms fitted very well to the Freundlich equation. Adsorption of various triazole fungicides increased in this order: triadimefon > hexaconazole > penconazole. The product of the Freundlich adsorption constants, K(f)(1/n), showed good correlation with the soil organic carbon (OC) content, suggesting that soil OC is the main controlling factor for triazoles adsorption. Clay and silt content of the soil also affected the adsorption constants. Adsorption of hexaconazole and triadimefon was nearly reversible in two low OC soils (soil 3, soil 5) where 90-100% of the sorbed fungicides was released in a single washing step. Otherwise, desorption of triazole fungicides showed hysteresis, and 30-60% of the triazole fungicides were retained by the soil after single washing. IR spectra showed that H-bonds and charge-transfer bonds between humic acid and fungicides probably operated as mechanisms of adsorption.     

贵州铅锌冶炼区农田土壤镉铅有效性评价与预测模型研究

农田土壤重金属的不同活性库分布和土壤-溶液分配模型能够提供重金属的生物有效性和浸出能力等信息,因而在风险评价和修复实践中非常重要。本研究采集毕节铅锌冶炼区30个历史污染农田土壤,同时在贵州省范围内采集5种类型背景土壤制成不同浓度Pb/Cd单一污染土壤;经3个月老化,分别测定由0.43 mol/L HNO_3、0.1 mol/L HCl和0.005 mol/L DTPA提取态表征的重金属反应活性库以及由0.01 mol/L CaCl_2提取态表征的直接有效库;分析铅锌冶炼区农田土壤Cd、Pb不同有效库的分布特征,建立土壤-溶液分配模型,并讨论土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明:历史污染土壤中Cd和Pb的直接有效库占全量比例分别比人工污染土壤低4倍和223倍,然而历史污染土壤Cd和Pb的反应活性库(0.43 mol/L HNO_3提取态)占全量比例要高于相应人工污染土壤中的比例。拓展Freundlich形式吸附方程能够准确描述各提取态表征的Cd和Pb活性库与土壤全量Cd和Pb的关系,尤其0.43 mol/L HNO_3提取方法能够克服土壤理化性质对土壤Cd和Pb提取的影响而与总量建立极显著的相关关系。pH依附性Freundlich吸附方程准确描述了Cd和Pb的总反应活性库分别与土壤溶液Cd和Pb的关系,对于Pb而言,还要考虑土壤有机质和有效磷的影响。本研究可为矿区农田土壤重金属污染评价、修复以及农田有效态标准的推导提供参考。     

Influence of rhamnolipids and triton X-100 on the biodegradation of three pesticides in aqueous phase and soil slurries.

The effect of surfactants on the biodegradation of trifluralin and atrazine (by Streptomyces PS1/5) and coumaphos (by degrading consortia from a contaminated cattle dip) in liquid cultures and soil slurries was tested at different concentrations of a rhamnolipid mixture (Rh-mix) and Triton X-100 (TX-100). The extent of trifluralin biodegradation in liquid culture was improved at high concentrations of both surfactants. The extent of atrazine degradation dropped in the presence of either surfactant. Coumaphos biodegradation improved slightly at Rh-mix dosages >3000 microM; however, it was readily inhibited by TX-100 at amounts above the critical micelle concentration. In soil slurries, the extent of both trifluralin and atrazine biodegradation was higher in Hagerstown A (HTA) soil than in Hagerstown B (HTB) soil and was not significantly affected by the presence of either surfactant. The onset of trifluralin biodegradation was retarded at higher concentrations of surfactants. In the absence of surfactant, up to 98% of coumaphos in both soil slurries was transformed. At increasing dosages of Rh-mix, the onset of coumaphos biodegradation was retarded, but the removal efficiency of the pesticide increased. Rh-mix and TX-100 depletion was observed during Streptomyces PS1/5 growth in liquid cultures. Rh-mix concentration also decreased during coumaphos biodegradation, whereas TX-100 concentration was not affected. These results suggest that surfactants, added for the purpose of increasing the apparent water solubility of hydrophobic organic compounds, may have unintended effects on both the rate and extent of biodegradation of the target compounds if the surfactants can also be degraded by the microorganisms in the system.