R6 AM Plant Uptake of Organic Pollutants - Processes and Modeling
Thursday, 17 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in 324-326

(DET-1117-734891) Fate of ¹⁴C Nonylphenol (NP), Nonylphenol Tetraethoxylate (NPE₄), and Nonylphenol Nonylethoxylate (NPE₉) in Biosolids/Soil Systems Planted with Crested Wheatgrass.

Dettenmaier, E¹, Doucette, W¹, ¹ Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA

ABSTRACT- Microcosm experiments, 150 days in duration, were conducted to evaluate the fate of ¹⁴C-labeled nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol tetraethoxylate (NPE₄), and nonylphenol nonylethoxylate (NPE₉) in a soil/biosolids (99.5:0.5% w/w) environment planted with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). Three concentrations 6, 24, and 47 mg/kg dry wt of NP, NPE₄ and NPE₉ were examined along with unplanted and unplanted poisoned controls. A single concentration of phenol 22 mg/kg was also evaluated as a more degradable reference compound. The biosolids were obtained from a municipal wastewater treatment plant receiving industrial, commercial and domestic wastewater. The loamy sand soil (1.6 %OC) was collected from a former agricultural field. Mineralization was quantified by collecting the ¹⁴CO₂ produced during the course of the study. Roots and foliar tissue were analyzed for ¹⁴C and parent compound. The extent of mineralization at the end of the study ranged from 7% for NP to 53% for phenol. No enhancement of mineralization was observed in the planted systems. ¹⁴C concentrations in the foliar tissues were proportional to the exposure concentration but were 10 times lower than concentration in the roots and 2-3 times lower than the soil.

Key words: Plant Uptake, Mineralization, Alkylphenol Ethoxylates, Microcosm