Substrate interactions during aerobic biodegradation of benzene

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:6936552

Arvin, E; Jensen, B K; Gundersen, A T ^[1]

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1. Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)

This study dealt with the interactions with benzene degradation of the following aromatic compounds in a mixed substrate: toluene, o-xylene, naphthalene, 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrrole. The experiment was performed as a factorial experiment with simple batch cultures. The effect of two different types of inocula was tested. One type of inoculum was grown on a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons; the other was grown on a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen-, sulfur-, and oxygen-containing aromatic compounds (NSO compounds), similar to some of the compounds identified in creosote waste. The culture grown on the aromatic hydrocarbons and NSO compounds was much less efficient in degrading benzene than the culture grown on only aromatic hydrocarbons. The experiments indicated that toluene- and o-xylene-degrading bacteria are also able to degrade benzene, whereas naphthalene-, 1,,4-dimethylnaphthalene-, and phenanthrene-degrading bacteria have no or very little benzene-degrading ability. Surprisingly, the stimulating effect of toluene and o-xylene was true only if the two compounds were present alone. In combination an antagonistic effect was observed, i.e., the combined effect was smaller than the sum from each of the compounds. The reason for this behavior has not been identified. Pyrrole strongly inhibited benzene degradation even at concentrations of about 100 to 200 micrograms/liter. Future studies will investigate the generality of these findings.

• OSTI ID: 6936552
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Vol. 55:12; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
ATP
BACTERIA
CULTURE MEDIA
MIXTURES
SUBSTRATES
WATER POLLUTION
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology