2021 Volume 77 Issue 2 Pages I_607-I_612
If future generations are to inherit rich marine environments, marine habitats must be restored. In a recycling society, it is necessary to effectively utilize soil from construction. Soil generated in shield tunneling contains foam consisting mainly of alkyl ether sulfate (AES). At high concentrations, AES has adverse effects on aquatic organisms, but it is biodegraded by microorganisms such as bacteria. This study was designed to understand the basic characteristics of AES biodegradation in soil. We conducted biodegradation experiments focusing on temperature, bacterial abundance, and soil type, and calculated the rate constant for AES decomposition. The value of the constant in cohesive soil changed depending on temperature in the range of 15-25 °C. Biodegradation of AES in cohesive soil was associated with the presence of bacteria at the beginning of the experiment and bacterial proliferation. In sandy soil, AES was not biodegraded because of low bacterial abundance.
