Degradation of Jet Fuel Hydrocarbons by Aquatic Microbial Communities.
Abstract
A model fuel mixture of fifteen hydrocarbons representative of those in distillate jet fuels was used to determine whether degradation by natural microbial communities could affect the persistence of such fuels released into aquatic environments. The mixture included hexane, cyclohexane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, toluene, n-octane, ethylcyclohexane, p-xylene, cumene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, indan, naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, n-tetradecane, and 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene. The water-soluble fraction of the model fuel was incubated in shake flasks with water or water and sediment suspensions collected at estuarine and freshwater sites, Surface films of the model mixture were studied under quiescent incubation. The disappearance of hydrocarbons was measured by capillary gas chromatography. Control flasks were sterilized with HgC1 to estimate losses due to abiotic processes. Fate tests were repeated with petroleum-derived JP-4. The soluble components of JP-4 were volatilized too rapidly for biodegradation to occur. Sedimentation dramatically affected the fate of fuel components when mixing of the hydrocarbon and sediment layers was studied. Sediment-associated components were more resistant to volatilization and microbial attack.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA139791
Entities
People
- A. W. Bourquin
- C. C. Somerville
- Jim C. Spain
- L. C. Butler
- T. J. Lee