Proposed mechanisms of toluene removal by vermicompost and earthworms Eisenia fetida

Nicolas Lusinier (1) , Catherine Couriol (1) , Pierre Le Cloirec (1)

1 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes

For potential use in air treatment by biofiltration, a new material composed of vermicompost and earthworms () was tested for the removal of a volatile organic compound (VOC), toluene. The removal rate of toluene was measured during batch experiments in presence of vermicompost only, earthworms only and a mixture of both. In the chosen experimental conditions, no mortality of earthworms was recorded and the results showed that the presence of earthworms allowed an increase in toluene removal rate (0.213 mg h) compared to vermicompost only (0.084 mg h) and earthworms only (0.136 mg h). From the experimental data, mechanisms of toluene transfer and adsorption/biodegradation by microorganisms from vermicompost and/or earthworms were proposed.

Mots clés: Toluene; Vermifiltration; Mechanisms; VOC; Vermicompost

Domaines: Autre; Ingénierie de l'environnement

Nicolas Lusinier, Catherine Couriol, Pierre Le Cloirec. Proposed mechanisms of toluene removal by vermicompost and earthworms Eisenia fetida. Environmental Technology, 2020, 41 (23), pp.3023-3031. ⟨10.1080/09593330.2019.1595164⟩. ⟨hal-02087808⟩