SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1978
STP35719S

Effect of a Chemical Dispersant on Microbial Utilization of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Source

The dispersant Corexit 9527 was found to enhance bacterial metabolism of Kuwait and South Louisiana crude oils as well as pure hydrocarbons in nonmechanically agitated seawater systems.

Oxygen depletion, measured by a modification of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) method, was used to determine the rate of substrate and mixed substrates oxidation by raw seawater populations of bacteria. This method demonstrated significantly increased oxidation of crude oil treated with dispersants. Mineralization studies, with 14C labeled hydrocarbon, substantiated the BOD results and also indicated that alkanes were metabolized prior to aromatic components in crude oils.

Author Information

Traxler, RW
Plant Pathology-Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R. I.
Bhattachatya, LS
Plant Pathology-Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R. I.
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Details
Developed by Committee: F20
Pages: 180–187
DOI: 10.1520/STP35719S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4728-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0299-6