Claims
- 1. A method for determining the uptake of contaminants from soils by selected soil microorganisms comprising the steps of: mixing the soil sample to be tested which has been moistened to 10-80% of its moisture holding capacity with a measured quantity of uncontaminated spores of a mold featuring aerial spores, maintaining this mixture of soil and mold spores at specified temperature conditions for a specified time period, applying an agar layer to the top of the thus treated soil sample, allowing a time period for the mold growing in the sample to form aerial spores, collecting the thus formed aerial spores, and drying and analyzing the spores for the contaminants.
- 2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of collecting the formed aerial spores is carried out by contacting the spores with a vacuum apparatus wherein the spores are drawn thereinto and collected on a filter permeable to the passage of air therethrough.
- 3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the step of collecting the formed aerial spores by the vacuum apparatus includes adjustably controlling the airflow through the apparatus so as not to exceed 2 liters per minute.
- 4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of maintaining the mixture of soil sample and mold spores was carried out at room temperature for a time period of 3 to 33 days.
Government Interests
The invention described herein was made in the course of, or under, Contract AT(26-1)-539 with the United States Energy Research and Development Administration.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3028313 |
Oberdorfer et al. |
Apr 1962 |
|