Preliminary studies on the enhanced biodegradation of BTEX: Effects of electron donors and acceptors

Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) are among the most common found groundwater contaminants. Microbial degradation of the compounds in groundwaters can serve as a significant attenuation mechanism. This study investigated the biodegradation of BTEX under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and the ability of auxiliary substrate to enhance the biodegradation. Results from the batch experiments showed that BTEX were not degraded under anaerobic condition, instead, were rapidly mineralized under aerobic condition. Application of auxiliary substrate did not seem to hold much promise on the removal of BTEX In addition, the results from the column experiments indicated that auxiliary substrate were rapidly mineralized and the microorganisms accumulated in the top of the column. BTEX were also rapidly degraded around the top of the aerobic column.