Impact of digestate and its fractions on mineralization of 14 C-phenanthrene in aged soil

The impact of whole digestate (WD) and its fractions (solid [SD] and liquid [LD]) on C-phenanthrene mineralization in soil over 90 d contact time was investigated. The C-phenanthrene spiked soil was aged for 1, 30, 60 and 90 d. Analysis of water-soluble nitrogen, phosphorus, total (organic and inorganic) carbon, and quantitative bacterial count were conducted at each time point to assess their impact on mineralization of C-phenanthrene in soils. Indigenous catabolic activity (total extents, maximum rates and lag phases) of C-phenanthrene mineralization were measured using respirometric soil slurry assay. The soil amended with WD outperformed the SD and LD fractions as well as showed a shorter lag phase, higher rate and extent of mineralization throughout the study. The digestates improved (P