Environmental and microbiological factors affecting the biodegradation and detoxification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7160776

Heitkamp, M A

The microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in microcosms containing sediment and water from freshwater and estuarine ecosystems. A ranking of six PAHs by mineralization rates are as follows: naphthalene (2.4-4.4) > phenanthrene (4-18) > 2-methylnaphthalene (14-20) > pyrene (34 ..-->.. 90) greater than or equal to 3-methylcholanthrene (87 ..-->.. 200) greater than or equal to benzo(a)pyrene (200 ..-->.. 300). PAH residues persisted two- to four-times longer in a pristine ecosystem and mineralization of higher molecular weight PAHs (greater than or equal to four rings) totaled 0.2-6.5% after eight weeks. Relative differences in PAH mineralization were related to levels of PAH residues and elevated populations of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. GC/MS analyses of organic extractable residues from microcosms exposed to naphthalene indicated that cis-1,2-naphthalene- dihydrodiol, 1-naphthol, salicyclic acid and catechol were metabolites of naphthalene.

• Research Organization: Arkansas Univ., Fayetteville (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7160776
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

3-METHYLCHOLANTHRENE
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DECOMPOSITION
DETOXIFICATION
ECOSYSTEMS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METHYLNAPHTHALENES
MICROCOSMS
MINERALIZATION
NAPHTHALENE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENANTHRENE
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PYRENE
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY