Bioavailability of adsorbed phenanthrene by black carbon and multi-walled carbon nanotubes to Agrobacterium.

Carbonaceous sorbents including black carbon (BC) and carbon nanotubes have attracted research attention around the world because of their effects on bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in sediments and soils. In this research, (14)C-labeled and unlabeled phenanthrene were spiked into three artificial sediments: (i) a sediment sample without amorphous organic carbon (OC) and with BC collected from the Yangtze River (BC-YR), (ii) a sediment without OC and with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and (iii) a sediment without OC and with fresh wood char. Biodegradation and mineralization of adsorbed phenanthrene by Agrobacterium and XAD-2 assisted abiotic desorption of adsorbed phenanthrene were studied.

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Wuhan section of the Yangtze River, China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important organic contaminants with great significance for China, where coal burning is the main source of energy. In this study, concentrations, distribution between different phases, possible sources and eco-toxicological effect of PAHs of the Yangtze River were assessed. PAHs in water, suspended particulate matters (SPM) and sediment samples at seven main river sites, 23 tributary and lake sites of the Yangtze River at the Wuhan section were analyzed.