Biodegradation of methanol and tertiary butyl alcohol in previously uncontaminated subsurface systems
The objective of this study was to determine the potential for biodegradation in subsurface soils and groundwater from sites in Williamsport, PA, Wayland, NY, and Dumfries, VA. These subsurface systems were characterized both physically, chemically and biologically. Bacterial populations were substantial in all systems and ranged from 10/sup 3/ to 10/sup 8/ colony forming units per gram. A matrix of test-tube microcosms was used to determine biodegradation rates of methanol and t-butyl alcohol at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 mg/L. Methanol degraded readily at all sites ranging from 0.8 mg/L/day to 20.4 mg/L/day and rates were generally greater in the saturated zone. TBA biodegraded at all sites, but was refractory in nature. Biodegradation rates for TBA in anaerobic subsurface systems were found to increase directly with initial concentration from 10/sup -4/ mg/L/day for 1 mg/L to 10/sup -1/ mg/L/day for 80 mg/L. TBA biodegradation in the aerobic system was essentially constant over all concentrations. Biokinetic coefficients were determined for methanol and TBA at each site based on plots of utilization rates versus substrate concentration and reciprocal plots of these values. The results indicate that methanol contamination in groundwater has much less associated risk to drinking water supplies due to the ease of biodegradation. However, TBA poses a much greater risk due to the very slow removal rates at low concentrations, which could result in a residual level for over a decade in some cases.
- Research Organization:
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5492557
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560302 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALCOHOLS
BIODEGRADATION
BUTANOLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION III
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METHANOL
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
SOILS
USA
VIRGINIA
WATER