The biodegradation of 16 US. EPA-listed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Sigma PAHs), with accompanying humification and microbial community structure changes during simulated in-vessel composting-bioremediation of an aged coal-tar-contaminated soil amended with green waste were studied over 56 days. The experimental design compared one constant temperature profile (TC=38 degrees C) with three variable temperature profiles (TP1, TP2 and TP3), including treatment at 70 degrees C to comply with regulatory requirements. Greatest 1: PAHs removal (75.4 +/- 0.1%; k(1) = 0.026 day(-1) R-2 = 0.98) occurred at TC = 38 degrees C compared to all variable temperature profiles TP1 (62.1 +/- 11.0%; k(1) = 0.016 day(-1), R-2 = 0.93), TP2 (71.8 +/- 8.2%; k(1) = 0.021 day(-1), R-2 = 0.95) and TP3 (45.3 +/- 9.7%; k(1) = 0.010 day(-1), R-2 = 0.91). This study proved that using thermophilic temperatures (70 degrees C towards the end of in-vessel composting processes (TP2) resulted in greater Sigma PAHs removal than using other variable temperature profiles (TP1, TP3), as long as the increase was stepwise via an intermediate temperature (55 degrees C). Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) signatures indicated that use of thermophilic temperatures towards the end of the in-vessel composting-bioremediation (TP2) resulted in a higher fungal to bacterial PLFA ratio and a lower Gram-positive to Gram-negative (G(+)/G(-)) bacterial ratio. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) showed the presence of peaks typical of humic-like (Ex/Ern wavelength pair similar to 340/460 nm) and fulvic-acid-like (Ex/Em wavelength pair similar to 245/460 nm) substances, indicating mineralization and/or maturation of the compost. Varying the temperature during in-vessel composting to comply with regulatory requirements for pathogen control, promoted contaminant biodegradation, microbial activity and compost maturation. (C) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.