NOTE: This item is not available outside the Texas A&M University network. Texas A&M affiliated users who are off campus can access the item through NetID and password authentication or by using TAMU VPN. Non-affiliated individuals should request a copy through their local library's interlibrary loan service.
Characterization of biodegradation rates of separated diesel components
dc.creator | Olson, Jennifer Jean | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2012-06-07T22:49:59Z | |
dc.date.available | 2012-06-07T22:49:59Z | |
dc.date.created | 1997 | |
dc.date.issued | 1997 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-1997-THESIS-O47 | |
dc.description | Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to digital@library.tamu.edu, referencing the URI of the item. | en |
dc.description | Includes bibliographical references: p. 45-48. | en |
dc.description | Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics. | en |
dc.description.abstract | In situ bioremediation has been successfully applied to a limited number of hydrocarbon contaminated sites (Bragg et al., 1994, Madsen 1991), however, the expanded application of in situ bioremediation has been limited by an inability to accurately predict the time required for remediation (NCR, 1993). Development of predictive models requires data addressing the rates of biodegradation of hydrocarbon compounds and how these rates are influenced by the composition of the hydrocarbon assemblage. Studies with complex mixtures, like whole fuels, have shown that hydrocarbons in petroleum do not follow a simple degradation sequence and the biodegradation rates of specific compounds vary among fuels (Elmendorf, 1994, Mulikins-Phillips and Stewart 1974, Walker et al., 1975). These studies indicate that the interactions between hydrocarbons of different classes influence the rates of biodegradation of specific compounds as well as entire classes. However, without data on the rates of biodegradation of the compounds and classes independent from the complex mixture it is difficult to extrapolate this data to use as a predictive tool for other fuels or as fuel-composition changes due to weathering. The biodegradation of specific compound classes isolated from complex mixtures versus composite hydrocarbon mixtures have not been reported. Three hydrocarbon classes (n-alkanes, branched & cyclic alkanes, and aromatics) were separated from a diesel fuel. The biodegradation rates of each class and specific compounds within each class were quantified over a 35 day period in microcosms that contained one of the three classes as the sole carbon source and in micorcosms that contained an assemblage of the three classes that resembled the original diesel fuel (composite solution). Triplicate microcosms were sampled on experimental days 0, 3, 7, 15, and 35. Microbial populations were quantified by total hetrotrophic plate counts. Hydrocarbon concentrations were quantified by GC/FID and specific compound identification were confirmed by GC/MS. After 35 days, the relative biodegradation for each hydrocarbon class was n-alkanes> aliphatic fraction of composite solution> aromatics> branched & cyclic alkanes> aromatic fraction of composite solution. The biodegradation rates ranged from 200 @g/day to 4,500 @g/day. | en |
dc.format.medium | electronic | en |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.language.iso | en_US | |
dc.publisher | Texas A&M University | |
dc.rights | This thesis was part of a retrospective digitization project authorized by the Texas A&M University Libraries in 2008. Copyright remains vested with the author(s). It is the user's responsibility to secure permission from the copyright holder(s) for re-use of the work beyond the provision of Fair Use. | en |
dc.subject | geology. | en |
dc.subject | Major geology. | en |
dc.title | Characterization of biodegradation rates of separated diesel components | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
thesis.degree.discipline | geology | en |
thesis.degree.name | M.S. | en |
thesis.degree.level | Masters | en |
dc.type.genre | thesis | en |
dc.type.material | text | en |
dc.format.digitalOrigin | reformatted digital | en |
Files in this item
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
-
Digitized Theses and Dissertations (1922–2004)
Texas A&M University Theses and Dissertations (1922–2004)
Request Open Access
This item and its contents are restricted. If this is your thesis or dissertation, you can make it open-access. This will allow all visitors to view the contents of the thesis.