WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMER FOR INCREASING THE BIODEGRADATION OF SPARINGLY SOLUBLE VAPORS

Microbial degradation of hexane vapor was tested in liquid cultures of Mycobacterium ID-Y and in a compost biofilter in the presence of Plur onic F68 (PF68). PF68, a nonionic block copolymer of ethylene oxide an d propylene oxide, is water soluble, nontoxic, and relatively nonbiode gradable. PF68 was added at 0-20 wt % to enhance the aqueous solubilit y of hexane and thereby increase its degradation rate. The distributio n coefficient of hexane (m = H-c/RT or CgC1) decreased by six times at 2.5 wt % PF68 with little additional decrease seen above 2.5 wt %. In liquid culture, PF68 increased specific growth rates of Mycobacterium ID-Yen hexane by about three times and increased the rate of hexane v apor degradation. Rates of hexane degradation were not increased howev er, in compost biofilters supplemented with 5.0 wt % PF68. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Inc.