Anaerobic degradation of alkylated benzenes in denitrifying laboratory aquifer columns

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7140933

Kuhn, E P; Zeyer, J; Eicher, P; Schwarzenbach, R P

Toluene and m-xylene were rapidly mineralized in an anaerobic laboratory aquifer column operated under continuous-flow conditions with nitrate as an electron acceptor. The oxidation of toluene and m-xylene was coupled with the reduction of nitrate, and mineralization was confirmed by trapping /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ evolved from /sup 14/C-ring-labeled substrates. Substrate degradation also took place when nitrous oxide replaced nitrate as an electron acceptor, but decomposition was inhibited in the presence of molecular oxygen or after the substitution of nitrate by nitrite. The m-xylene-adapted microorganisms in the aquifer column degraded toluene, benzaldehyde, benzoate, m-toluylaldehyde, m-toluate, m-cresol, p-cresol, and p-hydroxybenzoate but were unable to metabolize benzene, naphthalene, methylcyclohexane, and 1,3-dimethylcyclohexane. Isotope-dilution experiments suggested benzoate as an intermediate formed during anaerobic toluene metabolism. The finding that the highly water-soluble nitrous oxide served as electron acceptor for the anaerobic mineralization of some aromatic hydrocarbons may offer attractive options for the in situ restoration of polluted aquifers.

• Research Organization: Swiss Federal Institute for Water Resources and Water Pollution Control, Kastanienbaum
• OSTI ID: 7140933
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 54:2; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520101 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
AQUIFERS
AROMATICS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPE DILUTION
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NITRATES
NITRITES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
REDOX REACTIONS
TOLUENE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
XYLENES