Biodegradation of Hydrocarbon Contaminants by Patuxent River Soil Microbial Communities.
Abstract
This study attempted to determine the rates of aerobic biodegradation of common petroleum hydrocarbon compounds, and effects of hydrocarbon and nutrient concentrations on those rates and adaptation times. Tests were conducted by adding C-labeled compounds to jet fuel-contaminated soil from the fuel farm at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. Results indicated slow aerobic degradation rates for aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, which were not appreciably enhanced by adding mineral nutrients or readily degradable organic compounds. Reasons for the slow degradation rates, in the presence of high hydrocarbon degrading microbial populations, were hypothesized but not completely determined. Biodegradation, aliphatic hydrocarbons, fuels, soil, kinetics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA253944
Entities
People
- Frederick K. Pfaender
Organizations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill