BIODEGRADATION OF BENZENE, TOLUENE, ETHYLBENZENE AND XYLENES IN GAS-CONDENSATE-CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER

The rate and extent of biodegradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in ground-water was studied in samples from a contaminated site which contained total BTEX concentrations of up to 20 000 mug litre-1. All compounds were rapidly degraded under natural aerobic conditions. Elevation of incubation temperature, supply of organic nutrients or addition of inorganic fertiliser did not increase the rate or extent of biodegradation and it appeared that oxygen supply was the factor limiting BTEX degradation at this site. Attempts to increase the dissolved oxygen concentration in the ground-water by the addition of hydrogen peroxide to give a final concentration of 200 mg litre-1 resulted in the complete inhibition of biodegradation. No biodegradation occurred under anaerobic conditions except when nitrate was provided as a terminal electron acceptor for microbial respiration. Under denitrifying conditions there was apparent biodegradation of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, m-xylene and p-xylene but o-xylene was not degraded. Degradation under denitrifying conditions occurred at a much slower rate than under oxygenated conditions.