Transformation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons to organic acids in anoxic groundwater environment
- Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
The transformation of benzene and a series of alkylbenzenes was studied in anoxic groundwater of a shallow glacial-outwash aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota. Monoaromatic hydrocarbons, the most water-soluble components of crude oil, were transported downgradient of an oil spill, forming a plume of contaminated groundwater. Organic acids that were not original components of the oil were identified in the anoxic groundwater. The highest concentrations of these oxidized organic compounds were found in the anoxic plume where a decrease in concentrations of structurally related alkylbenzenes was observed. These results suggest that biological transformation of benzene and alkylbenzenes to organic acid intermediates may be an important attenuation process in anoxic environments. The transformation of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons to a series of corresponding oxidation products in an anoxic subsurface environment provides new insight into in situ anaerobic degradation processes. 21 refs., 4 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5115157
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States) Vol. 16:2; ISSN 0177-5146; ISSN EGWSE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANOXIA
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION V
GROUND WATER
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SPILLS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUMES
POLLUTION
SYNTHESIS
USA
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION