Virginia Tech
    • Log in
    View Item 
    •   VTechWorks Home
    • ETDs: Virginia Tech Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    •   VTechWorks Home
    • ETDs: Virginia Tech Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Biodegradation of benzene in soil systems

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    LD5655.V855_1995.M389.pdf (6.807Mb)
    Downloads: 23
    Date
    1995
    Author
    McCloskey, Colleen B.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The inadvertent release of petroleum hydrocarbons to the subsurface can be an imminent threat to groundwater supplies. Benzene, a water-soluble, carcinogenic petroleum hydrocarbon, is often one of the primary concerns in the cleanup of these underground petroleum leaks. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of soil properties, nutrient addition and benzene concentration on the biodegradation of benzene in soil systems. More specifically, a primary objective was to correlate measurable soil properties with benzene biodegradation characteristics in the soil. Benzene biodegradation was measured in seven uncontaminated Virginia soils and three contaminated soils using, laboratory microcosms. Microcosms consisted of 5 grams of soil combined with 5 mL of a sterile benzene solution. Benzene concentrations in the sterile solutions were varied at 1, 10 and 50 ppm initial benzene concentration as well as with and without nutrient supplements in the form of ammonium phosphate and potassium phosphate. Measurable physical, chemical and biological properties of each soil were then correlated with the observed benzene biodegradation characteristics, specifically an acclimation period or lag phase, a zero order biodegradation rate and a final time to degrade the substrate to less then 5 ppb benzene concentration. Statistical analysis showed an overall increase in zero order degradation rates with the addition of nutrients in uncontaminated soils at 1, 10 and 50 ppm initial benzene concentration. Multiple linear regression analysis also indicated statistically significant relationships between several soil properties (generally pH, % sand, and % organic matter) and benzene biodegradation characteristics. These results indicate that models could be developed to predict the biodegradation of benzene and similar petroleum hydrocarbons in soils based on numerous soil physical, chemical and biological properties, rather than a single microbial degradation rate.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10919/40823
    Collections
    • Masters Theses [20800]

    If you believe that any material in VTechWorks should be removed, please see our policy and procedure for Requesting that Material be Amended or Removed. All takedown requests will be promptly acknowledged and investigated.

    Virginia Tech | University Libraries | Contact Us
     

     

    VTechWorks

    AboutPoliciesHelp

    Browse

    All of VTechWorksCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Log inRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    If you believe that any material in VTechWorks should be removed, please see our policy and procedure for Requesting that Material be Amended or Removed. All takedown requests will be promptly acknowledged and investigated.

    Virginia Tech | University Libraries | Contact Us