Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s002530051225
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Title (Primary) Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in soil during aerobic/anaerobic changes and under purely aerobic conditions
Author Löser, C.; Seidel, H.; Zehnsdorf, A.; Stottmeister, U.
Source Titel Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Year 1998
Department UBT; UBT_alt; SAN
Volume 49
Issue 5
Page From 631
Page To 636
Language englisch
Abstract Microbial hydrocarbon degradation in soil was studied during periodical aerobic/anaerobic switching and under purely aerobic conditions by using a pilot-scale plant with diesel-fuel-contaminated sand. The system worked according to the percolation principle with controlled circulation of process water and aeration. Periodical switching between 4 h of aerobic and 2 h of anaerobic conditions was achieved by repeated saturation of the soil with water. Whatever the cultivation mode, less than 50% of the diesel was degraded after 650 h because the hydrocarbons were adsorbed. Contrary to expectations, aerobic/anaerobic changes neither accelerated the rate of degradation nor reduced the residual hydrocarbon content of the soil. Obviously the pollutant degradation rate was determined mainly by transport phenomena and less by the efficiency of microbial metabolism. The total mass of oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced was greater under aerobic/anaerobic changing than under aerobic conditions, although the mass of hydrocarbons degraded was nearly the same. As shown by an overall balance of microbial growth and by a carbon balance, the growth yield coefficient was smaller during aerobic/anaerobic changes than under aerobic conditions.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=8823
Löser, C., Seidel, H., Zehnsdorf, A., Stottmeister, U. (1998):
Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in soil during aerobic/anaerobic changes and under purely aerobic conditions
Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 49 (5), 631 - 636 10.1007/s002530051225