Aerobic Mineralization of MTBE and tert-Butyl Alcohol by Stream-Bed Sediment Microorganisms

摘要: Microorganisms indigenous to the stream-bed sediments at two gasoline-contaminated groundwater sites demonstrated significant mineralization of fuel oxygenates, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and alcohol (TBA). Up 73% [U-14C]-MTBE 84% [U-14C]-TBA were degraded 14CO2 under mixed aerobic/anaerobic conditions. No was observed strictly anaerobic The results indicate that, conditions characteristic sediments, microbial processes may provide a environmental sink for MTBE TBA delivered surface water bodies by contaminated or other sources.