Surfactant inhibition of bacterial growth on solid anthracene

Surfactants have been proposed as a promising method to enhance bioremediat ion of hydrophobic compounds in contaminated soils. However, the results of effects of surfactants on bioremediation are not consistent. This study sh owed that Triton X-100 at low concentration (0.024 mM or 0.09 CMC) inhibite d the rate of growth of either a Mycobacterium sp. or a Pseudomonas sp. on solid anthracene as sole carbon source. Recovery of microbial growth rate c ould be achieved by dilution of surfactants, while addition of more surfact ant gave an immediate decrease in growth rate. No inhibition of growth by T riton X-100 was observed with growth on glucose. The surfactant sorbed onto the surfaces of both the cells and the anthracene particles, which could i nhibit uptake of anthracene. The results were consistent with the hypothesi s that inhibition of microbial adhesion of cells to anthracene was responsi ble for the inhibition of growth by Triton X-100.