Degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in aerobic and anaerobic soil

Abstract

Aerobic and anaerobic degradation of ¹⁴C‐labeled pentachlorophenol (PCP) was examined in nitrogen aerated, moist Hagerstown silty clay loam with or without cellulose amendments. In anaerobic soil, PCP reduced soil respiration in the presence of cellulose; volatilization losses accounted for only 0.5% of the PCP added to soil; no ¹⁴CO₂ was detected; and organic solvent extractable radioactivity was the same from all treatments. Gas and thin‐layer Chromatographic analysis of the soil extracts showed the presence of pentachloroanisole in both aerobic and anaerobic soils. 2,3,5,6‐ and 2,3,4,5‐tetrachlorophenols and 2,3,6‐trichlorophenol were also detected as degradation products by gas chromatography after methylation. Further degradation of the pentachloroanisole was examined in both aerobic and anaerobic soils.

Key words:

• penta‐
• tetra‐
• and trichlorophenols
• PCP
• anaerobic degradation
• pentachloroanisole