Degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in aerobic and anaerobic soil.

Aerobic and anaerobic degradation of 14C-labeled pentachlorophenol (PCP) was examined in nitrogen aerated, moist Hagerstown silty clay loam with or without cellulose amendments. In anaerobic soil, PCP reduced soil respiration in the presence of cellulose; volatilization losses accounted for only 0.5% of the PCP added to soil; no 14CO2 was detected; and organic solvent extractable radioactivity was the same from all treatments. Gas and thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the soil extracts showed the presence of pentachloroanisole in both aerobic and anaerobic soils. 2,3,5,6- and 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenols and 2,3,6-trichlorophenol were also detected as degradation products by gas chromatography after methylation. Further degradation of pentachloroanisole was examined in both aerobic and anaerobic soils.