Effects of co-occurring aromatic hydrocarbons on degradation of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediment slurries

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6739713

Bauer, J E; Capone, D G

Rates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation and mineralization were influenced by preexposure to alternate PAHs and a monoaromatic hydrocarbon at relatively high (100 ppm) concentrations in organic-rich aerobic marine sediments. Prior exposure to three PAHs and benzene resulted in enhanced (/sup 14/C)naphthalene mineralization, while (/sup 14/C)anthracene mineralization was stimulated only by benzene and anthracene preexposure. Preexposure of sediment slurries to phenanthrene stimulated the initial degradation of anthracene. Prior exposure to naphthalene stimulated the initial degradation of phenanthrene but had no effect on either the initial degradation of mineralization of anthracene. For those compounds which stimulated (/sup 14/C)anthracene of (/sup 14/C)naphthalene mineralization, longer preexposures (2 weeks) to alternative aromatic hydrocarbons resulted in an even greater stimulation response. Enrichment with individual PAHs followed by subsequent incubation with one or two PAHs showed no alteration in degradation patterns due to the simultaneous presence of PAHs. The evidence suggests that exposure of marine sediments to a particular PAH or benzene results in the enhanced ability of these sediments to subsequently degrade that PAH as well as certain other PAHs. The enhanced degradation of a particular PAH after sediments have been exposed to it may result from the selection and proliferation of specific microbial populations capable of degrading it.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Solomons (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6739713
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 54:7; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510101* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MINERALIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
STIMULATION
SURFACE WATERS
TOLERANCE
TRACER TECHNIQUES