Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimizing biodegradation of phenanthrene dissolved in nonaqueous-phase liquids

  • Original Paper
  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was conducted to optimize the biodegradation in soil slurries of phenanthrene initially dissolved in nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs). The slow rate of degradation of phenanthrene in dibutyl phthalate was increased by addition of phenanthrene-degrading microorganisms to soil slurries containing the NAPL. The rate was further increased and the acclimation phase was shortened if the inoculum was grown in a medium containing the hydrocarbon and the phthalate before addition to the slurries. Composition of the growth medium only shortened the acclimation but had no effect on the rate. Vigorous agitation increased the rate and extent of mineralization of phenanthrene in dibutyl phthalate. The effect of temperature was affected by the presence and identity of the inoculum. Rapid and extensive mineralization of phenanthrene initially present in hexadecane and diesel oil were attained by use of intense agitation of the NAPL/soil slurry and inoculation with microorganisms grown in the presence of the NAPLs, but the influence of these variables was less with other NAPLs. Vigorous agitation and addition of an inoculum 24 h after introduction of a nonionic surfactant enhanced biodegradation of phenanthrene initially in 150 Bright stock oil and dibutyl phthalate. The results suggest improved means for the bioremediation of sites contaminated with NAPLs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berg G, Seech AG, Lee H, Trevors JT (1990) Identification and characterization of a soil bacterium with extracellular emulsifying activity. J Environ Sci Health [A] 25: 753–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bossert I, Bartha R (1984) The fate of petroleum in soil ecosystems. In: Atlas RM (ed) Petroleum microbiology. Macmillan, New York, pp 435–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouwer E, Durant N, Wilson L, Zhang W, Cunningham A (1994) Degradation of xenobiotic compounds in situ: capabilities and limits. FEMS Microbiol Rev 15: 307–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Efroymson RA, Alexander M (1991) Biodegradation by an Arthrobacter species of hydrocarbons partitioned into an organic solvent. Appl Environ Microbiol 57: 1441–1447

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Efroymson RA, Alexander M (1994) Biodegradation in soil of hydrophobic pollutants in nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs). Environ Toxicol Chem 13: 405–411

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Efroymson RA, Alexander M (1995) Reduced mineralization of low concentrations of phenanthrene because of sequestering in nonaqueous-phase liquids. Environ Sci Technol 29: 515–521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu MH, Alexander M (1995) Use of surfactants and slurrying to enhance the biodegradation in soil of compounds initially dissolved in nonaqueous-phase liquids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 43: 551–558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hommel RK (1990) Formation and physiological role of biosurfactants produced by hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms. Biodegradation 1: 107–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue A, Horikoshi K (1991) Estimation of solvent-tolerance of bacteria by the solvent parameter log P. J Ferment Bioeng 71: 194–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Labare MP, Alexander M (1995) Enhanced mineralization of organic compounds in nonaqueous-phase liquids. Environ Toxicol Chem 14: 257–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prince RC (1993) Petroleum spill bioremediation in marine environments. Crit Rev Microbiol 19: 217–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard PH, Costa CF (1991) EPA’s Alaska oil spill bioremediation project. Environ Sci Technol 25: 372–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prokop A, Sobotka M (1975) Insoluble substrate and oxygen transport in hydrocarbon fermentation. In: Tannenbaum, SR, Wang DC (eds) Single-cell protein II. MIT Press. Cambridge, Mass, pp 127–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer ME, Finnerty WR (1984) Microbial metabolism of straightchain and branched alkanes. In: Atlas RM (ed) Petroleum microbiology. Macmillan, New York, pp 1–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigon BW, Rubin AJ (1989) Practical considerations in the surfactant-aided mobilization of contaminants in aquifers. J Water Pollut Control Fed 61: 1233–1240

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Department of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    I. Birman & M. Alexander

Authors
  1. I. Birman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Alexander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Birman, I., Alexander, M. Optimizing biodegradation of phenanthrene dissolved in nonaqueous-phase liquids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 45, 267–272 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050682

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050682

Keywords

Search

Navigation