Anaerobic benzene mineralization by natural microbial communities from Niger Delta.

ABSTRACT: The Niger Delta is one of the most damaged ecosystems in the world, mainly due to petroleum contamination by oil exploration accidents. We investigated the natural attenuation potential of Niger Delta subsurface sediment samples for anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation using benzene as a model compound under iron-reducing, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic conditions. Benzene was slowly mineralized under methanogenic and iron-reducing conditions using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-Fe(III), or poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxides as electron acceptors, analyzed by measurement of ¹³CO₂ produced from added ¹³C-labelled benzene. Highest mineralization rates were observed in microcosms amended with Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. The microbial communities of benzene-mine

SUBMITTER: Eziuzor SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7940306 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature