Microbial degradation of alkylbenzenes under sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Final report, May 89-Apr 91

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5325785

Beller, H R; Edwards, E A; Grbic-Galic, D; Reinhard, M

Aquifer solids and soils obtained from various hydrocarbon-contaminated sites were used to investigate the ability of indigenous microorganisms to degrade monoaromatic hydrocarbons under strictly anaerobic conditions. In anaerobic microcosms inoculated with fuel-contaminated soil from the Patuxent River site, toluene degradation occurred concomitantly with sulfate reduction and ferric iron reduction. Similar results were obtained with suspended enrichments derived from the microcosms. Stoichiometric data and other observations suggested that sulfate reduction was closely linked to toluene degradation, whereas iron reduction was a secondary, potentially abiotic, reaction between ferric iron and biogenic hydrogen sulfide. The presence of millimolar concentrations of amorphous Fe(OH)3 in Patuxent River microcosms and enrichments either greatly facilitated the onset of toluene degradation or accelerated the rate once degradation had begun. Fermentative/methanogenic microcosms and enrichments that degraded toluene and o-xylene without added exogenous electron acceptors (except CO2) were developed from creosote-contaminated Pensacola samples. The microcosms initially underwent an acclimation lag of several months; however, once the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons was initiated, it proceeded at a relatively rapid rate, and it was complete (resulting in mineralization to CO2 and CH4). Benzene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene were not degraded.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• OSTI ID: 5325785
• Report Number(s): PB-91-212324/XAB; CNN: EPA-R-815721
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Sponsored by Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab., Ada, OK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
IRON
SOILS
CONTAMINATION
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
GROWTH
SULFATES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
LAND POLLUTION CONTROL
MICROCOSMS
STOICHIOMETRY
TOLUENE
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
XYLENES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
STORAGE
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology