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Biodegradation kinetics of phenanthrene solubilized in surfactant micelles

Conference ·
OSTI ID:484949
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering

The biodegradation of phenanthrene solubilized in surfactant micelles was studied using a simple, well-defined laboratory system. The system was designed to evaluate whether phenanthrene present in micelles of the nonionic surfactant Tergitol NP-10 was available to a phenanthrene-degrading bacterium. Results indicate that micellized phenanthrene is essentially unavailable to the microorganism, so that only the phenanthrene present in the aqueous phase is degraded. A modified Michaelis-Menten equation was developed to quantify the effects of surfactant concentration on phenanthrene uptake rates. Experimental data were described well with this equation.

Sponsoring Organization:
Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
OSTI ID:
484949
Report Number(s):
CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-009-8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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