Molecular probes and bioluminescent reporters in ecological optimization of biodegradation. (FY 91 aasert). Annual report, 1 June 1992-31 May 1993
The goal of the research supported by this grant is to determine the role that biosurfactants and biosurfactant-producing microorganisms may play in enhancing the rate and/or extent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biodegradation in particulate media. Biosurfactants, which are surface-active compounds produced by certain bacterial strains, have been shown to increase the apparent aqueous solubility of sparingly-soluble organic contaminants including PAHs. The biodegradation rate is often controlled by the aqueous concentration which in turn may be controlled by sorption/desorption equilibrium in particulate matrices. Biosurfactants may function as another phase for the contaminant to partition into, thereby increasing the available pool of the contaminant and, thus, its rate of degradation.
- Research Organization:
- Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6062845
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-267183/2/XAB; CNN: F49620-92-J-0333
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Biodegradation and toxicity of a crude oil/aqueous system in the presence of a biosurfactant
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Related Subjects
540000 -- Environment-- (1990-)
550200* -- Biochemistry
550500 -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLUMINESCENCE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESORPTION
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
LUMINESCENCE
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTITION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
REACTION KINETICS
SOLUBILITY
SORPTION
SURFACTANTS