Microbial degradation of selected aromatic compounds in a hazardous waste site

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dc.contributor.advisorWard, C. H.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberTomson, Mason B.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBedient, Philip B.en_US
dc.creatorLee, Michael Donalden_US
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-18T21:19:13Zen_US
dc.date.available2018-12-18T21:19:13Zen_US
dc.date.issued1983en_US
dc.description.abstractMicrobial degradation of five aromatic compounds was followed in aseptically-taken subsurface soil samples and ground water samples from the vicinity of a pit used to dispose the waste from a wood creosoting plant. The five compounds--anthracene, dibenzofuran, fluorene, naphthalene, and pentachlorophenol--were contaminants found in the soil and ground water. There was degradation of the selected compounds in the subsurface soil, although the importance of biological activity was not conclusively shown. Microbes in the ground water were able to biodegrade all five of the compounds with naphthalene, dibenzofuran, and fluorene being degraded most rapidly. Faster rates of degradation were noted for the more contaminated wells which had microbial populations that were adapted to the compounds. The presence in both ground water and soil samples of microbes which could utilize the aromatic compounds (except pentachlorophenol) as sole carbon sources was also demonstrated. Their numbers decreased with depth in the soil and increased with levels of contamination in the ground water. Total microbial counts on soil samples from 15 and 24 ft (water table) below the surface were about the same, but lower than that in the surface samples.en_US
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digitalen_US
dc.format.extent128 ppen_US
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Env. Sci. 1983 Leeen_US
dc.identifier.citationLee, Michael Donald. "Microbial degradation of selected aromatic compounds in a hazardous waste site." (1983) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104228">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104228</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.digitalRICE1857en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/104228en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.titleMicrobial degradation of selected aromatic compounds in a hazardous waste siteen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEnvironmental Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US
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