Enhanced biodegradation of naphthalene in MGP aquifer microcosms
- Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
Subsurface sediments collected from a former manufactured-gas-plant (MGP) site contain bacteria capable of mineralizing significant amounts of {sup 14}C-naphthalene in aerobic (8.5 mg/L O{sub 2}) sediment-water microcosms incubated at 10 C. The extent to which electron-acceptor (O{sub 2} and NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}) and nutrient (NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} and PO{sub 4}{sup 3{minus}}) amendments enhanced naphthalene mineralization in these sediments varied considerably. Oxygen-amended conditions (21 mg/L O{sub 2}) resulted in the greatest rate and extent of biodegradation for most sediments. Data suggested, however, that some MGP-site sediments prefer mixed NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}/O{sub 2} electron-acceptor conditions for naphthalene biodegradation. Significant denitrification was observed in the nitrate-amended sediments exhibiting naphthalene mineralization. In most cases, PO{sub 4}{sup 3{minus}} complexed with the sediments either had no effect or inhibited naphthalene mineralization. Sediments unable to mineralize naphthalene over the 6-week incubation period were characterized by low pH (<4.0) and high SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} (>500 mg/L) conditions.
- OSTI ID:
- 464902
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-002-0
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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