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Microbial phenol degradation of organic compounds in natural systems: Temperature-inhibition relationships

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Abstract

The combined influence of high phenol concentrations and low temperatures on aerobic and anaerobic phenol degradation kinetics was investigated in microbial enrichment cultures to evaluate temperature-inhibition relationships with respect to the ambient conditions in polluted habitats. The inhibition of microbial phenol degradation by excess substrate was found to be temperature-dependent. Substrate inhibition was intensified when temperatures were lower. This results in an elevated temperature sensitivity of phenol degradation at inhibitory substrate concentrations.

The synergistic amplification of substrate inhibition at low temperatures may help to explain the limited self-purification potential of contaminated habitats such as soils, sediments and groundwater aquifers where high pollutant concentrations and low temperatures prevail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Veterinary Hygiene and Public Veterinary Affairs, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 4, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Frank Eismann

  2. Department for Remediation Research, Center for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318, Leipzig, Germany

    Peter Kuschek & Ulrich Stottmeister

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  1. Frank Eismann
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  2. Peter Kuschek
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  3. Ulrich Stottmeister
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Eismann, F., Kuschek, P. & Stottmeister, U. Microbial phenol degradation of organic compounds in natural systems: Temperature-inhibition relationships. Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 4, 203–207 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986346

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986346

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