Biodegradation by an Arthrobacter species of hydrocarbons partitioned into an organic solvent

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5273858

Efroymson, R A; Alexander, M ^[1]

---

1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)

An Arthrobacter strain mineralized naphthalene and n-hexadecane dissolved in 2,2,4,4,5,6,6-heptamethylnonane. The extent of mineralization increased with greater volumes of solvent. The rate of mineralization of hexadecone was rapid, although partitioning of the compound into aqueous solution was not detected. The Arthrobacter sp. grown in media with or without heptamethylnonane did not excrete products that increased the aqueous solubility of naphthalene and hexadecane. Measurements of the number of cells in the aqueous phase showed that the Arthrobacter sp. attached to the heptamethylnonane-water interface, but attachment was evident even without a substrate in the heptamethylnonane. Tests with small inocula of the Arthrobacter sp. demonstrated that at least a portion of naphthalene or hexadecane dissolved in heptamethylnonane was degraded by cells attached to the solvent-water interface. The cells did not adhere in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100. The surfactant prevented mineralization of the hexadecane initially dissolved in heptamethylnonene, but it increased the rate and extent of mineralization of naphthalene initially dissolved in heptamethylnonane. The data show that organic solvents into which hydrophobic compounds partition affect the biodegradation of those compounds and that attachment of microorganisms to the organic solvent-water interface may be important in the transformation.

• OSTI ID: 5273858
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 57:5; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
09 BIOMASS FUELS
HEXADECANE
BIODEGRADATION
NAPHTHALENE
BACTERIA
MINERALIZATION
SOLUBILITY
SOLVENTS
SUBSTRATES
SURFACTANTS
ALKANES
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
540210* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)
090900 - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)