When inoculated at high cell densities, three strains of Pseudomonas cepacia degraded the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and coronene as sole carbon and energy sources. After 63 days incubation, there was a 20 to 30% decrease in the concentration of benzo[a]pyrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene and a 65 to 70% decrease in coronene concentration. The three strains were also able to degrade all the PAHs simultaneously in a PAH substrate mixture containing three-, four-, five- and seven-benzene ring compounds. Furthermore, improved degradation of the five- and seven-ring PAHs was observed when low molecular weight PAHs were present. © 1996 Chapman & Hall.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Technology
Research Group:	Environmental Biotechnology
Research Field:	Bioremediation
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Rehabilitation of Degraded Environments
Objective Field:	Rehabilitation of Degraded Environments not elsewhere classified
Author:	Britz, ML (Professor Margaret Britz)
ID Code:	73277
Year Published:	1996
Web of Science® Times Cited:	53
Deposited By:	Research Division
Deposited On:	2011-09-23
Last Modified:	2011-09-23
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