Anaerobic Biodegradation

Anaerobic biodegradation is the breakdown of organic contaminants by microorganisms when oxygen is not present. Some anaerobic bacteria use nitrate, sulfate, iron, manganese, and carbon dioxide as their electron acceptors, and break down organic chemicals into smaller compounds, often producing carbon dioxide and methane as the final products. This general mechanism of anaerobic biodegradation is an example of anaerobic respiration. Alternatively some anaerobic microorganisms can break down organic contaminants by fermentation. Fermentation is where the organic chemical acts as an electron acceptor. Anaerobic biodegradation is an important component of the natural attenuation of contaminants at many hazardous waste sites.

More Information

• RDX Biodegradation Under Metal-Reducing Conditions
• Does NDMA Biodegrade at Ground-Water Recharge Facilities?
• Predicting Plume Growth Rates - A Simple Method for Calculating Growth Rates of Petroleum Plumes
• History and Ecology of Chloroethene Biodegradation–A Review
• The Changing Face of Microbial Communities in Contaminant Plumes
• Using Oxygen to Enhance Biodegradation of Contaminants – Lessons Learned
• Using Oxygen to Clean Up Ground-Water Contamination
• Improving Cleanup of Contamination from Oil and Gas Production
• MTBE Biodegrades Naturally in Stream Sediments
• How do you Clean Up Gasoline Spills Naturally?
• Oxygen-Release Compound Remediation Tests, Laurel Bay, SC

References

• Chapelle, F.H., 2000, Ground-Water Microbiology and Geochemistry: New York, John Wiley and Sons, 468 p.
• Natural Attenuation for Groundwater Remediation, 2000: National Academies Press
• In Situ Bioremediation: When Does it Work?,1993: National Academies Press
• Alternatives for Ground Water Cleanup, 1994: National Academies Press

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