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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Electrostatic Method to Remove Particulate Organic Matter from Soil
Published on: February 10, 2021
Microbial treatment of soil to remove pentachlorophenol
1School of Chemical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-0294.
Abstract:
Direct inoculation of bacteria capable of degrading pentachlorophenol (PCP) into PCP-contaminated soil was investigated as a prophylactic measure to reduce the hazards of runoffs when spills occur or when wooden poles freshly treated with PCP-containing preservatives are located near streams and lakes. In laboratory tests at 30 degrees C, the direct addition of 10 PCP-utilizing Arthrobacter cells per g of dry soil reduced the half-life of the pesticide from 2 weeks to <1 day. Soil inoculation also was shown to be an effective way to increase the PCP disappearance rate in a test conducted in an outdoor shed.
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