Predicting PAH bioremediation efficacy using bioaccessibility assessment tools: Validation of PAH biodegradation–bioaccessibility correlations

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) may be utilised as a selective extractant to assesses the amount of PAHs in contaminated soil that are potentially available for biodegradation (i.e. the bioaccessible fraction). In this study, HP-β-CD extraction and PAH biodegradation (using enhanced natural attenuation) was assessed in 15 PAH-contaminated soils (dataset 1) in order to develop linear regression models to predict the extent of PAH degradation based on PAH bioaccessibility. Further studies were then undertaken to validate the HP-β-CD extraction-biodegradation relationships for individual PAHs using an independent dataset of 10 PAH-contaminated soils (dataset 2). Validated linear regression models were those where there was no significant difference (P 0.05) in the slope of models 1 and 2, however, the y intercepts were significantly different (P