Adaptation of microbial communities from an uncontaminated aquifer to degrade organic pollutants

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7001026

Aelion, C M

This study examined the ability of the microbial community from an uncontaminated aquifer to degrade and adapt to a variety of organic pollutants. Adaptation was defined functionally as an increase in the rate of mineralization of {sup 14}C-radiolabeled substrates with exposure to the chemical. Several patterns of microbial response to xenobiotic compounds were exhibited. For some compounds, such as chlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and toluene, limited mineralization was detected during greater than 8 months of incubation. Intermediate rates of biodegradation, and a linear increase in the percentage of substrate mineralized with time were observed for m-cresol, m-aminophenol and aniline. A maximum of 10 to 15% of the label added was respired during the 3 to 5 months incubation. Phenol, ethylene dibromide and p-chlorophenol were rapidly mineralized, to a maximum of 20 to 35% of the label added within the first few weeks of incubation. Of all the compounds examined, only p-nitrophenol and m-nitrophenol elicited an adaptation response in the microbial community.

• Research Organization: North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill, NC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7001026
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AMINES
ANILINE
AQUIFERS
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CRESOLS
DECOMPOSITION
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MINERALIZATION
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLLUTION
TOLUENE
WATER POLLUTION