Rates of solubilization and biodegradation of PAHs in the presence of non-ionic surfactants

Seema Narula, Gordon A. Lewandowski, Christos Christodoulatos

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

The rates of solubilization and biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the presence of non-ionic surfactants using mixed bacterial consortia are studied. The concentrations of non-ionic surfactants below 1% are capable of large increases of 2-3 orders of magnitude in the solubility of model PAH compounds viz. fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene. However, the microbial consortia had no inhibition effects for surfactant concentrations of up to 1%. In the absence of Makon 10, no substantial reduction in the PAH concentration was observed, whereas approximately 85% reduction was observed in the presence of the surfactant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)424-433
Number of pages10
JournalHazardous and Industrial Wastes - Proceedings of the Mid-Atlantic Industrial Waste Conference
StatePublished - 1997
EventProceedings of the 1997 29th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference - Blacksburg, VA, USA
Duration: 13 Jul 199716 Jul 1997

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