The possibility of accidental spills of hazardous substances poses a constant threat to the waters of the nation. Effective ways to control such spills and to mitigate their effects include physical and chemical techniques, but biological countermeasures have not been considered feasible to date. Determining the feasibility of this countermeasure have not been considered feasible to date. Determining the feasibility of this countermeasure was the primary focus of this study. Using the hazardous compounds, phenol and methanol, as test substances, treatability studies were performed using acclimated bacteria to estimate their growth kinetic and substrate removal rates and the effects of those coefficients of environmental variables such as temperature, pH, and salinity in ranges found typically in fresh and estuarine waters. Biological countermeasures were shown to be a feasible method for hazardous material spill removal within certain limitations imposed by the toxicity of the material to bacteria and its initial concentration.

"January 1984" References: p. 226-240