A novel phenanthrene (PHE)-degrading strain named as Sphingomonas sp.GF2B was isolated and identified from a farmland soil.Effects of a synthetic surfactant (Tween-80) and a rhamnolipid biosurfactant on PHE degradation by Sphin- gomonas sp.GF2B were investigated at different concentrations of the surfactants.The results showed that Sphingomonas sp.GF2B was able to mineralize up to 83.6% of PHE within 10 days without addition of surfactants.The addition of Tween-80 to the reaction medium inhibited greatly PHE biodegradation,with only 33.5% of PHE degraded.However,the biosurfactant facilitated PHE biodegradation,with up to 99.5% of PHE degraded.The preferential utilization of PHE as a carbon source and the enhanced solubility of PHE by the biosurfactant were likely responsible for the higher biodegra- dation efficiency of PHE in the presence of the biosurfactant.Therefore,it could be concluded that the application of the biosurfactant to PHE-contaminated soils was perhaps a feasible way to facilitate the PHE biodegradation.
The investigation of dissolved organic matter （DOM） on urease, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activity in a phenanthrene （Phe）- contaminated soil was conducted under laboratory incubation conditions. Values of soil enzymatic activity depended mainly on incubation time. In the initial 16 days, urease activity increased, and was followed by a decrease. In the initial 8 days, catalase activity decreased and then increased. Variation of polyphenol oxidase activity was just the reverse of catalase activity. After 30 days of incubation, no pronounced difference among treatments with Phe, Phe and DOM, and control were detected in urease, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activity. Phe might inhibit urease and catalase, and stimulate polyphenol oxidase. DOM could improve inhibition of Phe in soil urease and catalase activity during the initial period of applying DOM. Nevertheless, DOM had no significant effect on polyphenol oxidase activity in the Phe contaminated soil. There was a negative correlation between catalase and polyphenol oxidase （r = -0.761＊＊＊）, and catalase and urease （r = -0.554＊＊）. Additionally, a positive correlation between polyphenol oxidase and urease was also detected （r = 0.701＊＊＊）. It is implied that the formed DOM after application of organic wastes into soils may counteract the inhibition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil enzyme activities.
Xinhua Zhan,Wenzhu Wu,Lixiang Zhou,Jianru Liang,Tinghui Jiang College of Resources and Environmental Sciences,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing 210095,China.Greenstar Plant Products Inc.,9430 198 St,Langley,BC,Canada V1M3C8.
