STUDIES ON THE BIODEGRADATION OF 3 GROUPS OF PURE N-ALKANES IN THE PRESENCE OF MOLASSES AND MINERAL FERTILIZER BY PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

A laboratory biodegradation study of three arbitrary groups of pure n- alkanes chosen according to their carbon chain length was undertaken. The breakdown of n-alkanes was assessed using respirometry and gas chr omatography in the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Molasses or min eral fertilizer were added to the batch culture to investigate their e ffects on n-alkane biodegradation, The use of molasses enhanced the ox idation rates two fold over a carbon free mineral fertilizer, The perc entage reductions for most of the n-alkanes were higher in the presenc e of molasses than for the mineral fertilizer. For molasses group 1 n- alkanes (C14-C17) and group 2 (C18-C22) were both significantly reduce d, whereas in group 3 (C23-C28, and C30) only C23, C24 and C25 showed significant reductions. In the presence of mineral fertilizer only gro up 2 showed any significant reduction. The significance of using molas ses in biodegradation of n-alkanes in relation to oil spills is briefl y discussed, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.