Abstract
Stable isotope signature of organic compounds (natural abundance and enriched tracer compounds) can be used to investigate the distribution, transformation, and fate of organic substances in environmental compartments and organisms. The degradation of organic substances by microorganisms often leads to a relative enrichment of the heavier carbon isotopes in the residual substrate fraction. Based on the isotopic signature of a detected pollutant concentration and the analysis of the fractionation processes, the microbial in situ degradation in contaminated aquifers can be calculated. In addition, tracer compounds of organic xenobiotics labeled with stable isotopes can be used for the calculation of mass balances. The concept has been employed to characterise the transformation of 13C-labeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in closed soil bioreactors.
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Richnow, H.H., Meckenstock, R.U., Kästner, M. (2003). Perspectives of Stable Isotope Approaches in Bioremediation Research. In: Šašek, V., Glaser, J.A., Baveye, P. (eds) The Utilization of Bioremediation to Reduce Soil Contamination: Problems and Solutions. NATO Science Series, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0131-1_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0131-1_33
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