Quantifying the mineralization of contaminants using stable carbon isotope ratios

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-1999

Abstract

Current techniques used to monitor in situ degradation of organic contaminants require time intervals of days to months to measure significant changes in concentration. In addition, these methods are unable to monitor mineralization or measure absolute degradation of complex mixed wastes. The ability to continuously and definitively monitor mineralization (conversion to CO2 and H2O) would greatly enhance the ability to study the fate of contaminants. The objectives of this study were to show that in environments with appropriate background δ13C signatures, simultaneous measurement of CO2 production and δ13C signatures of the produced CO2 will allow both the quantification and qualification of contaminant mineralization. In laboratory microcosm studies the mineralization of hexadecane was monitored by both traditional 14C radiorespirometry techniques and by measuring the δ13C ratio and total amount of produced CO2. The total mass of hexadecane mineralized determined by each technique was statistically the same. More importantly, the first order rate constants calculated from the respective mineralization curves were virtually identical. These results indicate that stable carbon isotope ratios are an appropriate means of monitoring aerobic mineralization of contaminants in environments in which differences in δ13C ratios exist between contaminant and natural organic matter.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Organic Geochemistry

First Page

787

Last Page

792

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS