title: Degradation of organic pollutants in Mediterranean forest soils amended with sewage sludge.
abstract: The degradation of two groups of organic pollutants in three different Mediterranean forest soils amended with sewage sludge was studied for nine months. The sewage sludge produced by a domestic water treatment plant was applied to soils developed from limestone, marl and sandstone, showing contrasting alkalinity and texture. The compounds analysed were: linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) with a 10-13 carbon alkylic chain, and nonylphenolic compounds, including nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates with one and two ethoxy groups (NP1EO+NP2EO). These compounds were studied because they frequently exceed the limits proposed for sludge application to land in Europe. After nine months, LAS decomposition was 86-96%, and NP+NP1EO+NP2EO decomposition was 61-84%, which can be considered high. Temporal trends in LAS and NP+NP1EO+NP2EO decomposition were similar, and the concentrations of both types of compounds were highly correlated. The decomposition rates were higher in the period of 6-9 months (summer period) than in the period 0-6 months (winter+spring period) for total LAS and NP+NP1EO+NP2EO. Differences in decay rates with regard to soil type were not significant. The average values of decay rates found are similar to those observed in agricultural soils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain. paqui.gomez@ua.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francisca Gomez-Rico
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Disante
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortina
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D017753:Ecosystem; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C030641:alkylbenzyl sulfonic acid; C025256:nonylphenol