L. Gieg, D. Coy, P. Fedorak
May 1, 1999
Citations
0
Influential Citations
4
Citations
Journal
Canadian Journal of Microbiology
Abstract
Diisopropanolamine (DIPA) is a "sweetening agent" used to remove hydrogen sulfide from sour natural gas, and it is a contaminant at some sour gas treatment facilities in western Canada. To investigate the biodegradation of this alkanolamine, 14C-DIPA was used in anaerobic and aerobic mineralization studies. Between 3 and 78% of the radioactivity from this compound was released as 14CO2 in sediment-enrichment cultures incubated under nitrate-reducing conditions. Similarly, 12-78% of the label was converted to 14CO2 in sediment-enrichment cultures incubated under Mn(IV)-reducing conditions. These activities were observed at 8°C, a typical groundwater temperature in western Canada, and at 28°C. In contrast, DIPA-degrading activity was difficult to sustain under Fe(III)-reducing conditions, and <25% of the radioactive label from 14C-DIPA was liberated as 14CO2. Two mixed cultures and two isolates (both irregular, non-sporeforming, Gram-positive rods) were used to assess aerobic mineralization of 14C-DIPA. The...