Microbial biodegradation of aromatic alkanoic naphthenic acids is affected by the degree of alkyl side chain branching.

ABSTRACT: Naphthenic acids (NAs) occur naturally in oil sands and enter the environment through natural and anthropogenic processes. NAs comprise toxic carboxylic acids that are difficult to degrade. Information on NA biodegradation mechanisms is limited, and there are no studies on alkyl branched aromatic alkanoic acid biodegradation, despite their contribution to NA toxicity and recalcitrance. Increased alkyl side chain branching has been proposed to explain NA recalcitrance. Using soil enrichments, we examined the biodegradation of four aromatic alkanoic acid isomers that differed in alkyl side chain branching: (4'-n-butylphenyl)-4-butanoic acid (n-BPBA, least branched); (4'-iso-butylphenyl)-4-butanoic acid (iso-BPBA); (4'-sec-butylphenyl)-4-butanoic acid (sec-BPBA) and (4'-tert-butylphenyl)-4-bu

SUBMITTER: Johnson RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3105727 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature