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

S. Dyreborg, E. Arvin, K. Broholm

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    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 aromalic compounds containing sulfur (S-compounds), had a significant inhibitory effect (in 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 bad 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.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalBiodegradation
    Volume7
    Issue number3
    Pages (from-to)191-201
    ISSN0923-9820
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1996

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