A microcosm system and an analytical protocol to assess PAH degradation and metabolite formation in soils.

During bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-polluted soils accumulation of polar metabolites resulting from the biological activity may occur. Since these polar metabolites are potentially more toxic than the parental products, a better understanding of the processes involved in the production and fate of these oxidation products in soil is needed. In the present work we describe the design and set-up of a static soil microcosm system and an analytical methodology for detection of PAHs and their oxidation products in soils.