Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

UAF radiorespirometric protocol for assessing hydrocarbon mineralization potential in environmental samples.

E J Brown1, S M Resnick, C Rebstock

  • 1Water Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK 99775-1760.

Biodegradation
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

A new radiorespirometric method quantifies hydrocarbon degradation by microorganisms. This technique assesses bioremediation effectiveness for oil spills and indicates hydrocarbon contamination levels in environmental samples.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Complement activation.

Immunology today·2014
Same author

Competition between heterotrophic and autotrophic microplankton for dissolved nutrients.

Microbial ecology·2013
Same author

Treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis in children: a review.

Child: care, health and development·2010
Same author

The mannose cap of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan does not dominate the Mycobacterium-host interaction.

Cellular microbiology·2007
Same author

Relationships between stem cell exhaustion, tumour suppression and ageing.

British journal of cancer·2007
Same author

Determining the source of fecal contamination in recreational waters.

Journal of environmental health·2005

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Bioremediation science
  • Analytical chemistry

Background:

  • The Exxon Valdez oil spill highlighted the need for effective oil spill cleanup strategies.
  • Bioremediation offers a promising approach to mitigate hydrocarbon pollution.
  • Assessing microbial degradation potential is crucial for optimizing bioremediation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a radiorespirometric protocol for assessing microbial hydrocarbon degradation.
  • To determine the impact of nutrient addition (nitrogen and phosphorus) on biodegradation rates.
  • To establish the utility of the method for evaluating bioremediation effectiveness and detecting contamination.

Main Methods:

  • A radiorespirometric assay using 1-14C-n-hexadecane mineralization was employed.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Microbial activity was measured in coastal water and sediment suspensions.
  • 14CO2 and CO2 production were monitored to quantify hydrocarbon degradation.
  • Main Results:

    • The protocol successfully measured hydrocarbon degradation potential in environmental samples.
    • Nutrient addition (nitrogen and phosphorus) was shown to enhance biodegradation.
    • Degradation rates correlated with microbial biomass, hydrocarbon-oxidation potential, and nutrient availability.

    Conclusions:

    • The developed radiorespirometric method is effective for assessing microbial hydrocarbon degradation.
    • The protocol can be used to evaluate bioremediation strategies and monitor environmental contamination.
    • This technique provides valuable insights into microbial responses to hydrocarbon pollution.