Biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons by aquifer microorganisms under denitrifying conditions

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5605832

Hutchins, S R; Sewell, G W; Kovacs, D A; Smith, G A

Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate whether denitrification would be a suitable alternative for biorestoration of an aquifer contaminated with JP-4 jet fuel. Microcosms were prepared from uncontaminated and contaminated aquifer material, amended with nitrate, nutrients, and aromatic hydrocarbons, and incubated under a nitrogen atmosphere at 12 C. With uncontaminated core material, there was no observable lag period prior to removal of toluene whereas 30 days was required before biodegradation commenced for xylenes, ethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. An identical test with contaminated aquifer material exhibited not only much longer lag periods but decreased rates of biodegradation; benzene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene were not significantly degraded within the 6-month time period even though active denitrification occurred at this time. First-order biodegradation rate constants ranged from 0.016 to 0.38/day for uncontaminated core material and from 0.022 to 0.067/day for contaminated core material. Tests with individual compounds in uncontaminated core indicated that benzene and m-xylene inhibited the basal rate of denitrification. These data demonstrate that several aromatic compounds are degraded under denitrifying conditions, but rates of biodegradation may be lower in material contaminated with JP-4 jet fuel.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, OK (United States). Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5605832
• Report Number(s): PB-91-171892/XAB; EPA-600/J-91/003
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in Environmental Science and Technology, v25 n1 p68-76 Jan 91. Prepared in cooperation with NSI Technology Services Corp., 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.
AQUIFERS
DECONTAMINATION
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
TOLUENE
XYLENES
DENITRIFICATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
JET ENGINE FUELS
MICROCOSMS
MICROORGANISMS
OIL SPILLS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
STORAGE
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology