Abstract
Our previous publications showed that silicone (polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMS) polymers degrade to monomeric silanols and eventually to C02 in laboratory soil incubations. In this study, 200 cs14C-PDMS was added to soil microcosms (Tuscola sandy loam and Fargo silty clay) in anaerobically digested sludge. Soybeans followed by wheat were grown for 7 months during which microcosms were subjected to 3 leaching events. Recoveries of14C in the microcosms ranged from 47 to 90%. The recovered14C was almost completely in the soils, with trace amounts in leachate and ≤ 2% of the total in plant shoots. Extraction of soils coupled with HPLC-GPC showed that the majority of soill4C was still polymeric, but with lower molecular weight than the original PDMS. From 1 to 5% of the remaining14C was probably small silanols. Results thus confirm laboratory studies and show that PDMS degradation occurs under conditions similar to the field.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, C., Hochgeschwender, K., Weidemann, H., and Wilmes, R.: 1987,Chemosphere 16, 2567.
Arthur, M. F., Comaby, B. W., Gavaskar, A. R., O'brien, G. K., Shafer, M. G., Tolle, D. A., Wickramanayake, G. B., and Zwick, T. C.: 1988,Manual for sewage sludge application to croplands and orchards, NTIS No. PB89 110662/AS, Criteria and Standards Division, Office of Water Regulations and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Atkinson, R.: 1991,Environ. Sci. Technol. 25, 863.
Bair, F. E., ed.: 1992,The Weather Almanac, 6th ed., Gale Research Inc., Detroit, MI, p. 394.
Batley, G. E., and Hayes, J. W.: 1991,Aust. J. Mar. Freshwater Res. 42, 287.
Buch, R. R., and Ingebrigtson, D. N.: 1979,Environ. Sci. Technol. 13, 676.
Buch, R. R., Lane, T. H., Annelin, R. B., and Frye, C. L.: 1984,Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 3, 215.
Hobbs, E. J., Keplinger, M. L., and Calandra, J. C.: 1975,Environ. Res. 10, 397.
Lehmann, R. G.: 1993,Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 12, 1851.
Lehmann, R. G., Varaprath, S., and Frye, C. L.: 1994a,Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 13, 1061.
Lehmann, R. G., Varaprath, S., and Frye, C. L.: 1994b,Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 13, 1753.
Lindsay, W. L.: 1979,Chemical Equilibria in Soils, John Wiley and Sons, New York, p. 57.
Metcalf and Eddy, Inc.: 1979,Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal and Reuse, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 393.
Pellenbarg, R.: 1979,Environ. Sci. Technol. 13, 565.
Sommerlade, R., Parlar, H., Wrobel, D., and Kochs, P.: 1993,Environ. Sci. Technol. 27, 2435.
Tolle, D. A., Frye, C. L., Lehmann, R. G., and Zwick, T. Z.: 1994,Sci. Total Environ. (accepted).
Watts, R. J., Kong, S., Haling, C. S., Gearhart, L., Frye, C. L., and Vigon, B. W.: 1994,Water Res. (Accepted).
Zwick, T. C., Arthur, M. F., and Tolle, D. A.: 1984,Plant and Soil 77, 395.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lehmann, R.G., Frye, C.L., Tolle, D.A. et al. Fate of sludge-applied silicones in agricultural soil microcosms. Water Air Soil Pollut 87, 231–243 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696839
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696839