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Uptake of Dissolved and Oil Phase Organic Chemicals by Bacteria
Author(s) -
Mihelcic James R.,
Pritschow Annette,
Lueking Donald R.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1995.tb00542.x
Subject(s) - biodegradation , chemistry , bacteria , bioremediation , environmental chemistry , membrane , partition coefficient , oil spill , aqueous two phase system , limiting , aqueous solution , solubilization , chromatography , organic chemistry , environmental science , environmental engineering , biochemistry , biology , mechanical engineering , genetics , engineering
Hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) discharged into soil and ground water will partition into gaseous, aqueous, oil, and sorbed phases. Knowledge of how bacteria assimilate HOCs is important to individuals involved in evaluating intrinsic, or engineered, bioremediation. The majority of bacteria isolated from the subsurface are gram‐negative. The outer membrane of gram‐negative organisms acts as a selective barrier to many solutes, including hydrophobic chemicals. Thus, diffusional transport of a hydrophobic solute through the outer membrane may be the rate‐limiting step in biodegradation. Bacteria may also produce biosurfactants that can facilitate cell‐oil contact or assist solubilization of oil and sorbed phases.