Biodegradation of hydrophobic compounds in the presence of surfactants
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Lab. of Soil Microbiology
A study was conducted to determine the availability of hydrophobic compounds within surfactant micelles for microbial uptake. Several of the surfactants tested were toxic to the test bacterial and prevented biodegradation of biphenyl and phenanthrene at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The rate of biodegradation was reduced at a surfactant concentration above but not below the CMC only when the test bacterium grew on biphenyl in the presence of Triton X-100. This decrease was correlated with the CMC and was more pronounced at a biphenyl concentration of 0.2{micro}g/mol than 2.0{micro}g/ml. Such a correlation was not observed when bacteria grew on 1.0{micro}g glutamate per ml, even though the rate of glutamate degradation was reduced by Triton X-100. Analysis of the data with a mathematical mode suggested that the experimental observations were probably not the consequence of the unavailability to bacteria of biphenyl within Triton X-100 micelles.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 118689
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 14; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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