title: The influence of creosote compounds on the aerobic degradation of toluene.
abstract: The inhibiting effect of 14 typical creosote compounds on the aerobic degradation of toluene was studied in batch experiments. Four NSO-compounds (pyrrole, 1-methylpyrrole, thiophene, and benzofuran) strongly inhibited the degradation of toluene. When the NSO-compounds were present together with toluene, little or no degradation of toluene was observed during 16 days of incubation, compared with a total removal of toluene within 4 days when the four compounds were absent. Indole (an N-compound) and three phenolic compounds (phenol, o-cresol, and 2,4-dimethylphenol) also inhibited the degradation of toluene, though the effect was much weaker that of the four NSO-compounds. O-xylene, p-xylene, naphthalene and 1-methylnaphthalene seemed to stimulate the degradation even though the influence was very weak. No effects of benzothiophene (an S-compound) and quinoline (an N-compound) were observed. Benzofuran (an O-compound) was identified as the compound that most inhibited the degradation of toluene. An effect could be detected even at low concentrations (40 micrograms/l).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dyreborg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broholm
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D003407:Creosote / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014050:Toluene; D003407:Creosote