Mineralization and conversion of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in soil inoculated with the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor

The fate of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in autoclaved soil supplemented with st raw and inoculated with the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor was invest igated, inoculated flasks were incubated for 9 to 42 d and control flasks f or 0 to 28 d. Mineralization and volatilization of PCP and its transformati on products were measured using C-14-labelled PCP for radiorespirometry and extraction analysis, and non-labelled PCP to monitor by use of gas chromat ography transformation products of PCP. After incubation soil was extracted with water, dioxane, alkali (KOH-methanol) and the residue was combusted. PCP was analyzed from all extracts and its transformation products were ana lyzed from both water and dioxane fractions. During 42 d of incubation T. v ersicolor mineralized 29% of the PCP. The concentration of non-labelled PCP decreased to 4% of its original value during the incubation period. Only t race amounts of anisoles such as pentachloroanisole (PCA) and 2,3,4,6-tetra chloroanisole (2,3,4,6-TeCA) were formed during incubation. Part of the C-1 4-label was alkali-extractable, indicating that it was bound to humic subst ances, but this part was apparently later attacked and mineralized by the f ungus. Results suggest that the treatment of PCP polluted soils with T. ver sicolor is a possibility. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.