Enhancement of PAH biomineralization rates by cyclodextrins under Fe(III)-reducing conditions

Amendment of a soil slurry with low concentrations of a cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), (0.05–0.5 g l−1) increased the phenanthrene mineralization rate of a microbial consortium by 25% under Fe(III)-reducing conditions. Although a higher concentration (5.0 g l−1) resulted in a faster initial rate of mineralization, mineralization ceased after 25 days with maximum mineralization 17% lower than the control (no HPCD). At lower HPCD concentrations, mineralization was still taking place at day 76. Although pH should affect Fe(III) solubility, mineralization rates at pH 6.0 and 8.0 were comparable. Decreasing the temperature reduced the extent and rate of mineralization, but mineralization rates at 10 °C were still 60% of that obtained at 30 °C.