Effects of surfactants on the biodegradation of toluene in soil

The objective of this investigation was to observe and evaluate the effects of surfactants on the biodegradation of toluene in the subsurface. Soil microcosms containing gasoline were used to simulate conditions of an aquifer contaminated with hydrocarbons. The surfactants were the nonionics, Surfonic N-40 and N-95. Three volumes of gasoline, 0.005, 0.05, and 0.1 mL, were injected into separate microcosms in order to observe changes in toluene concentration in both adsorbed component conditions and free-phase, interstitial gasoline conditions. The data presented are the results from the microcosms containing 0.005 mL gasoline. -Dissolved toluene was only partially biodegraded in the microcosms containing free-phase hydrocarbons. The lack of complete biodegradation was believed to be due to substrate toxicity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Planning

Department dc:contributor.department

Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Moore, Jeffrey W.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Novak, John T.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Dietrich, Andrea M.
• Hoehn, Robert C.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06102012-040552

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43100