title: Biodegradation of benzene by halophilic and halotolerant bacteria under aerobic conditions.
abstract: A highly enriched halophilic culture was established with benzene as the sole carbon source by using a brine soil obtained from an oil production facility in Oklahoma. The enrichment completely degraded benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes within 1 to 2 weeks. Also, [14C]benzene was converted to 14CO2, suggesting the culture's ability to mineralize benzene. Community structure analysis revealed that Marinobacter spp. were the dominant members of the enrichment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-3020, USA.
authors.forename: Carla A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Babu Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Fathepure
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003470:Culture Media; D017753:Ecosystem; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D003470:Culture Media; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001554:Benzene; C004912:ethylbenzene