Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 9 OF 165

Main Title Anaerobic Biotransformations of Pollutant Chemicals in Aquifers (Journal Version).
Author Suflita, J. M. ; Gibson, S. A. ; Beeman, R. E. ;
CORP Author Oklahoma Univ., Norman. Dept. of Botany and Microbiology.;Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab., Ada, OK.
Publisher c1988
Year Published 1988
Report Number EPA/600/J-88/142;
Stock Number PB89-119341
Additional Subjects Water pollution ; Biodeterioration ; Anaerobic processes ; Halohydrocarbons ; Aquifers ; Chemical reactions ; Reprints ; Path of pollutants
Holdings
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Status
NTIS  PB89-119341 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 17p
Abstract
Anaerobic microbial communities sampled from either a methanogenic or sulfate-reducing aquifer site have been tested for their ability to degrade a variety of groundwater pollutants, including halogenated aromatic compounds, simple alkyl phenols and tetrachloroethylene. The haloaromatic chemicals were biodegraded in methanogenic incubations but not under sulfate-reducing conditions. In contrast, the degradation of cresol isomers occurred in both types of incubations but proved faster under sulfate-reducing conditions. The requisite microorganisms were enriched and the degradation pathways for p-cresol under the latter conditions involved the anaerobic oxidation of the aryl methyl group. Tetrachloroethylene was also degraded by reductive dehalogenation but under both incubation conditions. The initial conversion of this substrate to trichloroethylene was generally faster under methanogenic conditions. These results illustrate that pollutant compounds can be biodegraded under anoxic conditions and that a knowledge of the predominant ecological conditions is essential for accurate predictions of the transport and fate of such materials in aquifers. (Copyright (c) 1988 Society for Industrial Microbiology.)