A novel method for measuring biomass activity applied to soils contaminated with oil refinery tar

Soil biomass activity may be used as an indicator of pollutant degradation in son, but methods for estimating soil biomass can be time-consuming. Acti vity in soil contaminated with oil refinery tar has been assayed using a lo w flow gas meter to measure oxygen evolved by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase in the soil microflora. Each analysis takes 15 minute s. Samples from contaminated land undergoing bioremediation were analysed t hrough a 14 week treatment period and biomass activity compared with pollut ant concentrations. An increase in microbial activity corresponded to a dec rease in pollutant concentrations.