POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON BIODEGRADATION AND KINETICS USING CUNNINGHAMELLA-ECHINULATA VAR ELEGANS

Bioremediation is a process technology that uses microorganisms to deg rade specific organic chemicals. In recent years, bioremediation has p roven to be successful for the remediation of soils contaminated by po lycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Even though bioremediation has had a high success rate, the associated kinetics are still not fully u nderstood. The kinetics become even more complicated when fungi are us ed for the remediation. The primary objective of this research was to determine the specific degradation rates for the bioremediation of PAH contaminated soils. Specifically, the kinetics associated with the fu ngi Cunninghamella echinulata var. elegans in conjunction with three s upplemental nutrient solutions were investigated.