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ETHANOL BIODEGRADATION FROM GASOLINE RELEASES AND ITS EFFECT ON BTEX BIODEGRADATIONS
Citation:
Adair*, C J. AND J T. Wilson*. ETHANOL BIODEGRADATION FROM GASOLINE RELEASES AND ITS EFFECT ON BTEX BIODEGRADATIONS. Presented at 15th Annual UST/LUST National Conference, San Francisco, CA, 03/9-12/2003.
Description:
How fast will ethanol biodegrade and what impact will it have on the biodegradation of BTEX in a gasoline spill? This session will provide evidence to answer these questions based on laboratory data. Material from UST spills from Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California was used to conduct soil microcosm studies. Microcosms were used to determine the rate and extent of biodegradation and sorption of MTBE, TBA, Ethanol, and other oxygenates in sediment samples where MTBE is known to be present and may be degrading under anaerobic conditions. The microcosms were incubated for up to two years and sampled on a quarterly basis in triplicate. The rates of degradation were determined by comparing live microcosms with autoclaved control microcosms.
The rate of ethanol biodegradation to methane was rapid. Ethanol was added to the microcosms at a concentration of approximately 2,000 mg/liter. Rapid removal of these high ethanol concentrations was observed in 5 of the 6 locations. Three sites saw essentially complete removal in one month. In two other sites ethanol was reduced to a concentration less than 200 mg/liter in less than a year. In material from the final site, ethanol was not degraded.
The impact of ethanol on the biodegradation of BTEX in a gasoline spill would be minimal due to the rapid removal of ethanol. Ethanol would be degraded in the ground water immediately proximate to the spill and have little effect on the aquifer surrounding the spill.