Sodium percarbonate was encapsulated in poly(vinylidene chloride) to d
etermine its potential as a slow-release oxygen source for biodegradat
ion of contaminants in subsurface soils. In laboratory studies under a
queous conditions, the encapsulated sodium percarbonate was estimated
to release oxygen over about a two-month period. Microbial survival in
the presence of encapsulated sodium percarbonate was markedly increas
ed compared to the unencapsulated compound. In laboratory studies, the
encapsulated sodium percarbonate was used to provide oxygen as an ele
ctron acceptor for microorganisms during the biodegradation of propyle
ne glycol. In 30 days at 12-degrees-C (similar to subsurface soil temp
eratures), the concentration of propylene glycol was reduced tenfold a
nd the number of propylene glycol degrading organisms increased tenfol
d compared to live controls without the encapsulated sodium percarbona
te. Killed controls did not show significantly reduced concentrations
of propylene glycol compared to the live controls. Acidic soil conditi
ons (pH 4.7) were neutralized to a pH of about 8.3 by the encapsulated
sodium percarbonate.