title: Degradation of aromatic compounds in ground-water, and methods of sample preservation.
abstract: The degradation of acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylindene, 3-methylindene and indene in water solutions was studied. These compounds at the 25-150 mug/l. level were almost totally degraded at ambient temperature within three days. The microbial population responsible for the degradation occurs naturally in ground-water taken from an aquifer in Ames, Iowa, which is contaminated with coal-tar products. These unidentified micro-organisms adapt readily to other waters when used as an inoculant for the degradation of aromatic compounds. The preservation of water to prevent such degradation was also investigated. Filtration through a 0.45-mum filter was found the most effective procedure for preserving the hydrocarbons in these waters.
authors.affiliation: Ames Laboratory(1) and Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Junk
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Svec