COMPLETE MINERALIZATION OF BENZENE BY AQUIFER MICROORGANISMS UNDER STRICTLY ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Benzene was mineralized to CO2 by aquifer-derived microorganisms under strictly anaerobic conditions. The degradation occurred in microcosms containing gasoline-contaminated subsurface sediment from Seal Beach, California, and anaerobic, sulfide-reduced defined mineral medium supplemented with 20 mM sulfate. Benzene, at initial concentrations ranging from 40 to 200-mu-M, was depleted in all microcosms and more than 90% of C-14-labeled benzene was mineralized to (CO2)-C-14.