Anaerobic biodegradation of fluoranthene under methanogenic conditions in presence of surface-active compounds
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Whole Cell Bioreporter Approach to Assess Transport and Bioavailability of Organic Contaminants in Water Unsaturated Systems
Published on: December 24, 2014
Nadezhda Fuchedzhieva1, Dimitar Karakashev, Irini Angelidaki
1Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Abstract:
Bacillus cereus isolated from municipal wastewater treatment plant was used as a model strain to assess the efficiency of two anionic surfactants, a chemical surfactant and a biosurfactant during fluoranthene biodegradation under anaerobic methanogenic conditions. The surfactants selected for the study were linear alkyl benzene sulphonates (LAS) and rhamnolipid-biosurfactant complex from Pseudomonas sp. PS-17. Biodegradation of fluoranthene was monitored by GC/MS for a period up to 12th day. No change in the fluoranthene concentration was registered after 7th day. The presence of LAS enhanced the cell growth as well as the fluoranthene biodegradation. The rhamnolipid-biosurfactant at both used concentrations inhibited the cell growth and had no effect on the biodegradation rate. It was shown that LAS did not affect the microbial cell permeability and its positive effect on fluoranthene biodegradation was most likely as a result of the increased fluoranthene solubility. The results indicate that LAS can be considered as a promising agent for facilitation of the process of anaerobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) biodegradation under methanogenic conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

