Biodegradability oxic conditions

Landmeyer, J.E., Chapelle, F.H., Herlong, H.H., and Bradley, P.M. Methyl fert-butyl ether biodegradation by indigenous aquifer microorganisms under natural and artificial oxic conditions. Environ. Sci. TechnoL., 35(6) 1118-1126, 2001. 

The studies were mostly undertaken under oxic conditions, although several studies have also examined the biodegradation of MTBE under anoxic conditions. 

Landmeyer JE, Bradley PM (2001) Biodegradation of MTBE by indigenous aquifer microorganisms imder artificial oxic conditions. Abstr Pap Am Chem Soc 222 U420-U421... 

Finneran and Lovley [23] and Schmidt et al. [24] have discussed the thermodynamics of the MTBE and TBA degradation process in the presence of different terminal electron acceptors. Schmidt et al. [24] calculated the free energy AG° yield from MTBE or TBA under different redox conditions from oxic to methanogenic, where this value ranged from -3172 to -88.6 kj mol or from -2499 to -32.1 kJ mol respectively. This showed that although less favorable, anaerobic conditions could allow the biodegradation of MTBE and TBA. Bradley et al. [25] tested the mineralization potential of [ C]-MTBE in the presence of all the predominant electron acceptors with lake or stream sediments sampled at three different sites in the United States. Minerahzation was observed in all cases but to different extents. 

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