FE(III) AS ELECTRON ACCEPTOR FOR GASOLINE-ETHANOL BIODEGRADATION IN TROPICAL RESIDUAL SOIL / FE(III) COMO ACEPTOR DE ELÉTRONS NA BIODEGRADAÇÃO DE GASOLINA-ETANOL EM SOLO TROPICAL RESIDUAL

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Gasoline monoaromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX) have been detected in aquifers due to storage tank spills from gas stations that lead to their consequent dissolution on groundwater. An aggravating factor in Brazil is ethanol being used as additive to gasoline, promoting an increase on pollutants percolation in soil since it works as co-solvent and is preferentially degraded. Therefore, changes on environmental chemical conditions promote adaptations of the survival dynamic of native microorganisms. In a reducing environment with low levels of manganese, absence of nitrate and significant presence of iron oxides, Fe(III) becomes the preferential electron acceptor for anaerobic biodegradation of organic matter. In order to evaluate this anaerobic biodegradation of BTEXEthanol mixture in a tropical aquifer, mediated by Fe(III) reduction, anaerobic microcosms were developed involving homogeneous soil saturated with noncontaminated and BTEX-Ethanol contaminated water. Quantifying and analyzing microbial activity, contamination residues and Fe(+2) contents allowed to verify increases of iron availability from the respective oxides and Fe(+2) production throughout the assay, as well as the period of microbial adaptation, the variation of microbial activity and the decrease of BTEX-Ethanol levels. These results may be indicative of the occurrence of natural attenuation. However, more studies are needed, including a better methodology to measure iron speciation in these experimental conditions.

ASSUNTO(S)

biodegradation gasolina gasoline solos tropicais tropical soils biodegradacao

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