STUDY OF SORPTION, BIODEGRADATION AND ISOMERIZATION OF HCH IN STIMULATED SEDIMENT WATER SYSTEM/

This paper reported the sorption, biodegradation and isomerization of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in laboratory sediment/water system under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. The effect of organic nutrient addition to the sorption of HCH was also investigated. It ind icates that HCH is highly adsorbed on sediments under both conditions. During the tests, the biodegradation and isomerization of HCH were dr amatically speeded up after organic nutrient additions, especially in the case of the observation under aerobic condition. It was found, bet a-HCH was the most persistent in the environment, that is due to the i somerization of alpha-HCH in a big amount to beta-HCH, besides its che mical stability. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.