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Ward, C. H. Tomson, Mason B. Bedient, Philip B. Lee, Michael Donald 2018-12-18T21:19:13Z 2018-12-18T21:19:13Z 1983 Lee, 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>. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104228 RICE1857 Thesis Env. Sci. 1983 Lee Microbial 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. 128 pp reformatted digital eng Copyright 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. Microbial degradation of selected aromatic compounds in a hazardous waste site Thesis Text Environmental Science Engineering Rice University Masters Master of Science open.access