title: Biodegradability of alkylates as a sole carbon source in the presence of ethanol or BTEX.
abstract: The biodegradability of alkylate compounds in serum bottles was investigated in the presence and absence of ethanol or benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene (BTEX). The biomass was acclimated to three different alkylates, 2,3-dimethylpentane, 2,4-dimethylpentane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane in porous pot reactors. The alkylates were completely mineralized in all three sets of experiments. They degraded more slowly in the presence of BTEX than in their absence because BTEX inhibited the microbial utilization of alkylates. However, in the presence of ethanol, their slower biodegradation was not related to inhibition by the ethanol. Throughout the experiments alkylates, ethanol, and BTEX concentrations did not change in the sterile controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati. Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
authors.forename: Jaiho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Maher M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zein
authors.forename: Makram T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Suidan
authors.forename: Albert D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Venosa
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D019149:Bioreactors; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005742:Gasoline; D009795:Octanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010420:Pentanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014050:Toluene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D005742:Gasoline; D009795:Octanes; D010420:Pentanes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D000431:Ethanol; C068571:2,4-dimethylpentane; C031286:4-xylene; C521368:2,3-dimethylpentane; D001554:Benzene; C004912:ethylbenzene; C045798:2,2,4-trimethylpentane