Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1996 The fate of methyl bromide, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol in soil and surface water: influence of soil variables and vegetation on degradation and offsite movement Patricia Jane Rice Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Hydrology Commons, Medical Toxicology Commons, Microbiology Commons, and the Toxicology Commons Recommended Citation Rice, Patricia Jane, "The fate of methyl bromide, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol in soil and surface water: influence of soil variables and vegetation on degradation and offsite movement " (1996). 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Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zed) Road, Ami Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 The fate of methyl bromide, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol in soil and surface water: influence of soil variables and vegetation on degradation and offsite movement by Patricia Jane Rice A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PfflLOSOPHY Major: Toxicology Major Professors: Joel R. Coats and Todd A. Anderson Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1996 UMI Number: 9712594 UMI Microfonn 9712594 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ii Graduate College Iowa State University This is to certify that the Doctoral dissertation of Patricia Jane Rice has met the dissertation requirements of Iowa State University Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. Co-major Professor Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. Fo the iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LISTOFFIGURES v LIST OF TABLES viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction 1 Methyl Bromide 1 Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol 3 Rhizosphere 6 Dissertation Objectives 8 Dissertation Organization 8 CHAPTER 2. THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ON THE DEGRADATION AND VOLATILITY OF METHYL BROMIDE IN SOIL 10 Abstract 10 Introduction 11 Experimental Procedures 13 Results and Discussion 22 Conclusions 36 Acknowledgment 37 References 37 CHAPTER 3. EVALUATION OF THE USE OF VEGETATION FOR REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEICING AGENTS 42 Abstract 42 Introduction 43 Materials and Methods 45 Results 51 Discussion 63 Conclusion 66 Acknowledgment 66 References 67 CHAPTER 4. THE USE OF AQUATIC PLANTS TO REMEDIATE SURFACE WATERS CONTAMINATED WTTH AIRCRAFT DEICING AGENTS 71 Abstract 71 iv Introduction 72 Materials and Methods 73 Results 78 Discussion 83 Conclusion 86 Acknowledgment 86 References 86 GENERAL CONCLUSION 89 Influence of soU environmental variables on the fate of methyl bromide in soil 89 Use of vegetation to reduce the environmental impact of deicing agents 90 APPENDIX. THE INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION ON THE MOBILITY OF PROPYLENE GLYCOL THROUGH THE SOIL PROFILE 92 GENERAL REFERENCES 103 V LISTOFHGURES CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION Figure 1. D^radation products of methyl bromide 4 Figure 2. Structure of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol 4 CHAPTER 2. THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ON THE DEGRADATION AND VOLATILITY OF METHYL BROMIDE IN SOIL Figure 1. Undisturbed soil column used to study the volatility, movement, and degradation of methyl bromide 17 Figure 2. \ficrobial respiration in soil fumigated with 2,733 ^ig/g methyl bromide. Data points are the mean ± one standard deviation 26 Figure 3. Microbial respiration in soil fumigated with 350 |ig/g methyl bromide. Data points are the mean ± one standard deviation 27 Figure 4. Volatility of methyl bromide in undisturbed soil colunms following a 48-h fiimigation period. Data points are the mean ± one standard deviation 29 Figure 5. Bromide ion breakthrough from an undisturbed soil column treated with methyl bromide. Soil columns were leached weekly after the 48-h fumigation period 31 Figure 6. Volatilization of field-applied methyl bromide 32 Figure 7. Concentration of gaseous methyl bromide detected in soil from three fumigated fields 33 Figure 8. Mean concentrations of bromide ion detected in soil from three methyl bromide-fumigated fields 35 vi CHAPTERS. EVALUATION OF THE USE OF VEGETATION FOR REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEICING AGENTS Figure 1. Sampling sites at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE 46 Figure 2. Mineralization of ['''Cjethylene glycol in nonvegetated soils and bluegrass (P. pratensis), fescue (E arundimcea), rye (Z. perenne), trefoil (L. comiculatus), and mixed rhizosphere soils at -10 "C, 0 "C, and 20 °C. Mixed rhizosphere soils were collected from soil that contained M sativa, F. arundinacea, L. pererme, and P. pratensis 50 Figure 3. Mineralization of 100 ng/g, 1,000 ng/g, and 10,000 |ig/g ["C]ethylene glycol in nonvegetated soils incubated at 0 "C. Data points are the mean of three replicated ± one standard deviation.. 52 Figure 4. Mineralization of 100 pig/g, 1,000 |ig/g, and 10,000 |ig/g ['"•CJethylene glycol inM sativa rhizosphere soils incubated at 0 "C. Data points are the mean of three replicated + one standard deviation 53 Figure 5. The effects of vegetation and soil temperature on the mineralization of ['"CJethylene glycol after a 15 d incubation period. Each bar is the mean of three replicates. Bars followed by the same letter are not significantly diflferent (p=0.05) 58 Figure 6. Mineralization of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol in different rhizosphere soils incubated at -10 "C, 0 "C, and 20 °C. The symbols represent the following treatments EG (ethylene glycol), PG (propylene glycol), FA {F. arundinacea rhizosphere soil), T (L. comiculatus rhizosphere soil), and M (mixed rhizosphere soil)... 60 CHAPTER 4. THE USE OF AQUATIC PLANTS TO REMEDIATE SURFACE WATERS CONTAMINATED WITH AIRCRAFT DHCING AGENTS Figure 1. Apparatus used to measure the fate of ["C]ethylene glycol and ['"Cjpropylene glycol in the aquatic emergent whole-plant system 75 Figure 2. Glass exposure chamber used to collect radiocarbon released by the aquatic emergent plants 77 Figure 3. Mineralization of [''*C]ethyIene glycol in nonvegetated soil, sterile soil, and soil that contained either Scirpus fluniatilis, Scirpus acutus, or Scirpus validus. Data points (cumulative '"COj) followed by the same letter are not significantly different (^0.05) 80 vii Figure 4. Mineralization of P'^jpropylene glycol in nonvegetated soil, sterile soil, and soil that contained either Scirpusflimiatilis, Scirpus acutus, or Scirpus validus. Data points (cumulative ''KZOj) followed by the same letter are not significantly different (/)=0.05) 81 Figure 5. The distribution of recovered in the plant shoots and roots. The total quantity of applied detected in the plant tissues was less than 8% of the radiocarbon applied. Data points are the mean of three to five replicates ± one standard deviation 84 APPENDIX. THE INFLUENCE OF VEGETAHON ON THE MOBILITY OF PROPYLENE GLYCOL THROUGH THE SOIL PROFILE Figure I. Vegetated undisturbed soil column used to study the influence of plants on the mobility of aircraft deicers through the soil profile 96 Figure 2. Concentration of propylene glycol detected in the leachate of vegetated and nonvegetated soil colunms 98 Figure 3. Cumulative concentration of propylene glycol detected in the leachate of vegetated and nonvegetated soil columns 100 viii LIST OF TABLES CHAPTER 2. THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ON THE DEGRADATION AND VOLATILITY OF METHYL BROMIDE IN SOIL Table I. Volatility of methyl bromide as influenced by soil temperature and soil moisture. Volatility is reported as the percentage of methyl bromide applied 0, 3, and 72 hours after the 48-h fumigation period 15 Table 2. Soil characteristics of surface soil (0-10 cm) from three fields professionally fiimigated with methyl bromide 20 Table 3. Degradation of methyl bromide to bromide ion as influenced by soil moisture and soil temperature. Values are reported as percentage of the initially applied methyl bromide after a 48-h fumigation period (0 h post fumigation) 24 CHAPTER 3. EVALUATION OF THE USE OF VEGETATION FOR REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEICING AGENTS Table L Soil characteristics of Offutt Air Force Base sampling sites 47 Table 2.