title: Effects of surfactants on rhizodegradation of oil in a contaminated soil.
abstract: The effects of nonionic surfactants on degradation of engine oil in metal contaminated soil using Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) were investigated. Triton X-100 and Tween 80 were individually applied to test pots in which the soil had been earlier spiked with 500 mg kg(-1) of used engine oil, 500 mg kg(-1) of PbCl(2) and 50 mg kg(-1) of CdCl(2). For he application of Tween 80 to the soil, the fractions of rhizodegraded oil and the fractions of removed metals from the soil were well correlated. On the other hand, such a correlation did not exist between the fractions of rhizodegraded oil and the fractions of removed metals for the application of Triton X-100 to the soil. It was observed that Triton X-100 caused a significant decrease in basal soil respiration (BSR) which can be attributed to a reduction in microbial activity. This, in turn, resulted in a reduction of the rhizodegraded oil fraction. Tween 80 proved to be effective in the rhizodegradation of oil under aerobic conditions. Further, this surfactant seems to have the positive effect on the soil microbial population when viewed in terms of BSR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. rmemarian@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Memarian
authors.forename: Amruthur S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ramamurthy
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D001937:Brassica / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D054327:Lubricants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000494:pharmacology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D054327:Lubricants; D010578:Petroleum; D011136:Polysorbates; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D017830:Octoxynol