Open AccessFactors affecting the mineralization of [U‐ 14 C]benzene in spent mushroom substrate
Author(s) -
Semple Kirk T,
Watts Ngaire U,
Fermor Terry R
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13104.x
Subject(s) - benzene , mineralization (soil science) , chemistry , btex , environmental chemistry , xylene , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , nitrogen
The degradation of benzene in pasteurized spent mushroom substrate (SMS) was assessed. Following a 3 month enrichment in the presence of a variety of BTEX compounds, the extent of [U‐ 14 C]benzene mineralization in the pasteurized SMS increased with increasing incubation temperature (18°C<37°C<50°C). The concentration as well as the chemical composition used to enrich the compost's degradative activity was also shown to be involved in determining the extent of benzene mineralization. SMS induced on a 12.5 mM BTEX mixture mineralized more benzene than composts induced using 500 μM benzene, 500 μM o ‐xylene, or 2.5 mM BTEX mixture. In the absence of a pre‐enrichment period, benzene mineralization was minimal.