F. Solano-serena et al., Selection of microbial populations degrading recalcitrant hydrocarbons of gasoline by monitoring of culture-headspace composition, LETT APPL M, 30(1), 2000, pp. 19-22
A methodology was devised and was found useful for the selection of populat
ions degrading recalcitrant hydrocarbons. The work was part of a programme
aiming at developing knowledge of the intrinsic capacities of autochtonous
microflorae of the environment for gasoline biodegradation. The methodology
involved monitoring the progress of degradation in enrichment liquid cultu
res on the selected hydrocarbon by gas chromatographic analysis of CO2 prod
uction and O-2 consumption. Populations degrading in particular o-xylene, 1
,2,4-trimethylbenzene, cyclohexane were obtained. Concerning 2,2,4-trimethy
lpentane (isooctane), one microflora (and a pure strain derived from it) gr
owing on this hydrocarbon were obtained from gasoline-polluted water.