Biodegradation studies of unresolved complex mixtures of hydrocarbons: model UCM hydrocarbons and the aliphatic UCM

An unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of hydrocarbons isolated from a commercially available lubricating oil, and a synthetic mixture of C 25 hydrocarbons were subjected to biodegration by an aerobic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, for 0–25 days. The rate and extent of biodegration was influenced...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Organic geochemistry 1992, Vol.18 (1), p.17-22
Main Authors: Gouch, M.A., Rhead, M.M., Rowland, S.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biodegradation
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Hydrocarbons
lube oil
Sedimentary rocks
UCM
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Summary:An unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of hydrocarbons isolated from a commercially available lubricating oil, and a synthetic mixture of C 25 hydrocarbons were subjected to biodegration by an aerobic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, for 0–25 days. The rate and extent of biodegration was influenced by molecular structure. Straight chain and monomethyl-alkanes were rapidly degraded in the first 10 days in the approximate order n-C 25>2-methyl->9-methyl-tetracosane. The remaining alkanes were degraded more slowly, initially at a rate comparable to the UCM ( ca 1% day − up to day 14) but thereafter more quickly ( ca 3% day −). The UCM was degraded as a whole, i.e. no reduction in the proportion of resolved vs unresolved alkanes was observed.
ISSN:0146-6380
1873-5290
DOI:10.1016/0146-6380(92)90139-O