Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Sphingomonas sp. enhanced by water-extractable organic matter from manure compost

The effectiveness of in-situ bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be inhibited by their low aqueous solubility and strong absorption to soil constituents. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) from manure compost on the biodegradation of various PAHs. The aqueous solubilities of PAHs including phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene under different concentrations of WEOM from cow manure compost were initially evaluated. The contribution of WEOM on the degradation of PAHs by Sphingomonas sp. was then investigated. Dissolution results confirmed the ability of WEOM to increase the apparent solubility of the 3PAHs. Time course of biodegradation also revealed its positive contribution to their removal. For example, the degradation of pyrene was 118% higher in the presence of 1000 mg-C L− 1 WEOM as compared to the mineral salt medium (MSM) alone after 48 h incubation. In addition, degradation was 12% higher with WEOM than with Glucose–Ammonium nitrate despite the more than 6 times higher cell concentration in the latter. WEOM from other manure composts such as chicken and pig were found to have the same effect. Finally, additional tests confirmed that high molecular weight WEOM (> 1000 Da) contributed mainly to solubility and biodegradation enhancements. On the basis of these results, the increase in apparent solubility of PAHs in WEOM solutions may have a significant impact on their biodegradation. It is postulated that the application of WEOM-rich manure composts may be extended in the in-situ bioremediation of PAHs-polluted soil.