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Title: Anaerobic microbial transformation of aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents. Final report, 30 Sep 88-31 Mar 92

Abstract

Anaerobic microbial transformation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAH), chlorinated benzenes (CB), and mixtures of MAH and CB, as well as MAH and chlorinated aliphatic solvents (tetrachloroethylene -- PCE, and carbon tetrachloride -CT) was studied in laboratory microcosms derived from hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater aquifers. Some MAH, such as toluene and o-xylene, were completely degraded to CO2 and CH4 by mixed methanogenic cultures from a creosote-contaminated aquifer. This degradation was inhibited by the addition of accessory electron acceptors (oxygen, nitrate, sulfate), indicating acclimation of the microbial community to methanogenic conditions. The addition of preferred substrates, such as acetate, propionate, methanol, fatty acids, glucose, casamino acids, pepton, yeast extract, or acetone also inhibited MAH degradation, indicating that the presence of natural organic substrates may preclude anaerobic biodegradation of MAH in situ. Cyclohexane, CT, and high concentrations of toluene and o-xylene had a toxic effect Under sulfate-reducing conditions, several MAH -toluene, all three xylene isomers, and benzene were mineralized to CO2, by microorganisms from a petroleum-contaminated, sulfidogenic aquifer. Whereas-toluene and xylenes were sequentially degraded in a mixture, benzene was degraded only if alone, or slowly transformed in a mixture with toluene. This explains previously reported recalcitrance of benzene under anaerobic conditions.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
OSTI Identifier:
6901698
Report Number(s):
AD-A-255696/7/XAB
CNN: AFOSR-88-0351
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; AQUIFERS; DECONTAMINATION; CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS; BIODEGRADATION; CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS; HYDROCARBONS; ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS; AROMATICS; CREOSOTE; MICROCOSMS; MICROORGANISMS; MIXTURES; SOLVENTS; SUBSTRATES; WATER POLLUTION; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CLEANING; DECOMPOSITION; DISPERSIONS; HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS; HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS; ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; POLLUTION; 540220* - Environment, Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology

Citation Formats

Edwards, E A, Liang, L N, and Grbic-Galic, D. Anaerobic microbial transformation of aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents. Final report, 30 Sep 88-31 Mar 92. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Edwards, E A, Liang, L N, & Grbic-Galic, D. Anaerobic microbial transformation of aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents. Final report, 30 Sep 88-31 Mar 92. United States.
Edwards, E A, Liang, L N, and Grbic-Galic, D. 1992. "Anaerobic microbial transformation of aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents. Final report, 30 Sep 88-31 Mar 92". United States.
@article{osti_6901698,
title = {Anaerobic microbial transformation of aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents. Final report, 30 Sep 88-31 Mar 92},
author = {Edwards, E A and Liang, L N and Grbic-Galic, D},
abstractNote = {Anaerobic microbial transformation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAH), chlorinated benzenes (CB), and mixtures of MAH and CB, as well as MAH and chlorinated aliphatic solvents (tetrachloroethylene -- PCE, and carbon tetrachloride -CT) was studied in laboratory microcosms derived from hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater aquifers. Some MAH, such as toluene and o-xylene, were completely degraded to CO2 and CH4 by mixed methanogenic cultures from a creosote-contaminated aquifer. This degradation was inhibited by the addition of accessory electron acceptors (oxygen, nitrate, sulfate), indicating acclimation of the microbial community to methanogenic conditions. The addition of preferred substrates, such as acetate, propionate, methanol, fatty acids, glucose, casamino acids, pepton, yeast extract, or acetone also inhibited MAH degradation, indicating that the presence of natural organic substrates may preclude anaerobic biodegradation of MAH in situ. Cyclohexane, CT, and high concentrations of toluene and o-xylene had a toxic effect Under sulfate-reducing conditions, several MAH -toluene, all three xylene isomers, and benzene were mineralized to CO2, by microorganisms from a petroleum-contaminated, sulfidogenic aquifer. Whereas-toluene and xylenes were sequentially degraded in a mixture, benzene was degraded only if alone, or slowly transformed in a mixture with toluene. This explains previously reported recalcitrance of benzene under anaerobic conditions.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6901698}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 1992},
month = {Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 1992}
}

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