title: A note on the use of the CEC L-33-A-93 test to predict the potential biodegradation of mineral oil based lubricants in soil.
abstract: The biodegradabilities of five unformulated mineral oils (brightstock, 150 SN base oil, white oil and two gas oils) were determined in the CEC L-33-A-93 test and during 20 weeks incubation in nutrient-supplemented soil microcosms. Biodegradation in both studies was measured as the loss of extractable hydrocarbon ('primary' biodegradation). There was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) rectilinear relationship between the extents of biodegradation in both test systems. The results indicate that the CEC method could be used as a relatively simple, quick and inexpensive test for assessing the potential biodegradation of mineral oil based lubricants in soil.
authors.affiliation: Shell Research and Technology Centre, Thornton, Chester, U.K.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Battersby
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008153:Lubrication; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000378:metabolism*; D009426:Netherlands; D011786:Quality Control; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008899:Mineral Oil