Shifts in biodegradation kinetics of the herbicides MCPP and 2,4-D at low concentrations in aerobic aquifer materials

Biodegradation kinetics of two phenoxy acid herbicides, MCPP [(+/-)-2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid; mecoprop] and 2,4-D [2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid] were studied in laboratory batch microcosms at low concentrations (0.025-100 mug/L) using C-14 technique with sediments and groundwater from a shallow aerobic sandy aquifer. Below a certain threshold concentration of approximately 1 mug/L for 2,4-D and 10 mug/L for MCPP, the biodegradation followed first-order nongrowth kinetics, and no adaptation was observed within the experimental period of 341 d. Half-lifes for ultimate degradation were 500 d for 2,4-D and 1100 d for MCPP at 10 degreesC in unpolluted aquifer sediment in this environmentally relevant concentration regime. Above the threshold concentrations, the biodegradation rate accelerated gradually due to selective growth of specific biomass, which was ascertained from C-14 most probable number enumerations of specific phenoxy acid degraders. At the highest concentration tested (100 mug/ L), specific degraders increased from 10(-1) to 10(5) Cells/g during the experiment, and half-lifes after adaptation decreased to approximately 5 d. The enhanced rate of degradation by adapted systems was maintained during degradation of the last residuals measured to less than 0.1 mug/L. In situ long-term preexposure of the aquifer sediment also resulted in significant higher degradation rates of the phenoxy acids.