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Effects of creosote compounds on the aerobic bio-degradation of benzene

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Abstract

The inhibitory effect of creosote compounds on the aerobic degradation of benzene was studied in microcosm experiments. A total removal of benzene was observed after twelve days of incubation in microcosms where no inhibition was observed. Thiophene and benzothiophene, two heterocyclic aromatic compounds containing sulfur (S-compounds), had a significant inhibitory effect on the degradation of benzene, but also an inhibitory effect of benzofuran (an O-compound) and 1-methylpyrrole (a N-compound) could be observed, although the effect was weaker. The NSO-compounds also had an inhibitory effect on the degradation of p-xylene, o-xylene, and naphthalene, while they only had a weak influence on the degradation of 1-methylnaphthalene, o-cresol and 2,4-dimethylphenol. The phenolic compounds seemed to have a weak stimulating effect on the degradation of benzene whereas the monoaromatic hydrocarbons and the naphthalenes had no significant influence on the benzene degradation. The inhibitory effect of the NSO-compounds on the aerobic degradation of benzene could be identified as three different phenomena. The lag phase increased, the degradation rate decreased, and a residual concentration of benzene was observed in microcosms when NSO-compounds were present. The results show that NSO-compounds can have a potential inhibitory effect on the degradation of many creosote compounds, and that inhibitory effects in mixtures can be important for the degradation of different compounds.

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Abbreviations

ben:

benzene

bf:

benzofuran

bt:

benzothiophene

dmp:

2,4-dimethylphenol

GC:

gas chromatograph

ind:

indole

mnap:

1-methylnaphthalene

MAHs:

monoaromatic hydrocarbons

mp:

1-methylpyrrole

nap:

naphthalene

NSO-compounds:

heterocyclic aromatic compounds containing nitrogen, sulphur or oxygen

o-cre:

o-cresol

o-xyl:

o-xylene

PAHs:

polyaromatic hydrocarbons

phe:

phenol

p-xyl:

p-xylene

pyr:

pyrrole

thi:

thiophene

qui:

quinoline

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  1. Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering Groundwater Research Centre, Technical University of Denmark, Building 115, DK-2800, Lyngby, Denmark

    Søren Dyreborg, Erik Arvin & Kim Broholm

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  1. Søren Dyreborg
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  2. Erik Arvin
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  3. Kim Broholm
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Dyreborg, S., Arvin, E. & Broholm, K. Effects of creosote compounds on the aerobic bio-degradation of benzene. Biodegradation 7, 191–201 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00058179

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