Mm. Laine et Ks. Jorgensen, EFFECTIVE AND SAFE COMPOSTING OF CHLOROPHENOL-CONTAMINATED SOIL IN PILOT-SCALE, Environmental science & technology, 31(2), 1997, pp. 371-378
A pilot-scale composting of chlorophenol-contaminated soil was perform
ed to compare chlorophenol degradation by two different inoculants, st
raw compost and remediated soil, with that by indigenous soil microbes
. Four compost piles with a size of 13 m(3) each were constructed. Chl
orophenol and chloroanisole concentrations as well as numerous physica
l and microbiological parameters were monitored during 6 months of com
posting. Over 90% of the chlorophenols were removed during the compost
ing period. The biodegradation of chlorophenols was efficient and fast
despite the inocula. Frequent mixing and central of the nutrient leve
l enhanced the chlorophenol degradation activity of the indigenous mic
robes in the contaminated soil. In a parallel bench-scare experiment,
an average of 60% mineralization of radiolabeled pentachlorophenol ([C
-14]-PCP) was obtained in 4 weeks in 1-kg piles with or without inocul
a. This result showed that a major part of chlorophenols was completel
y mineralized.