Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of synthetic surfactants

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7284401

Tiehm, A ^[1]

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1. Universitaet Karlsruhe (Germany)

The biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) often is limited by low water solubility and dissolution rate. Nonionic surfactants and sodium dodecyl sulfate increased the concentration of PAH in the water phase because of solubilization. The degradation of PAH was inhibited by sodium dodecyl sulfate because this surfactant was preferred as a growth substrate. Growth of mixed cultures with phenanthrene and fluroanthrene solubilized by a nonionic surfactant prior to inoculation was exponential, indicating a high bioavailability of the solubilized hydrocarbons. Nonionic surfactants of the alkylethoxylate type and the alkylphenolethoxylate type with an average ethoxylate chain length of 9 to 12 monomers were toxic to a PAH-degrading Mycobacterium sp. and to several PAH-degrading mixed cultures. Toxicity of the surfactants decreased with increasing hydrophilicity, i.e., with increasing ethoxylate chain length. Nontoxic surfactants enhanced the degradation of fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene.

• OSTI ID: 7284401
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 60:1; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
SURFACTANTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
TOXICITY
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology