Biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the environment.
Biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the environment.
复制标题
环境中碳氢化合物的生物降解。
DOI：
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发表时间：
1988
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Ronald M. Atlas
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Ronald M. Atlas
对石油环境归宿的研究表明，能够代谢碳氢化合物的微生物几乎无处不在。降解速率取决于此类微生物的浓度以及受石油污染的生态系统的环境特征。在适宜的环境条件下，微生物通过其生物降解代谢有效地净化受到石油污染物污染的环境。较高分子量的化合物，尤其是那些具有多个稠环结构以及高度支化或取代的化合物，相对较难受到微生物的攻击。尽管基因工程改造的碳氢化合物降解菌是首个获得专利的生物，并且各种商业公司都生产菌种，但接种导致的生物降解增强通常并未被证明是有效的。此外，即使现在已经证明一些厌氧菌能够进行碳氢化合物代谢，但碳氢化合物在缺氧环境中会无限期地存在。另一方面，环境改良，例如通过曝气或施用氮和磷进行施肥，已被证明可以提高碳氢化合物的生物降解去除率。在考虑了影响碳氢化合物生物降解速率的各种因素之后，我们面临的问题是，当环境发生石油污染时，应该采取什么措施来尽量减少其持久性以及长期影响。显然，处理方法应该提高而不是抑制石油生物降解的自然速率。在某些情况下，可以改变环境参数来提高碳氢化合物的生物降解速率，但这类方法很少被采用。将我们关于碳氢化合物生物降解的科学知识转化为实际应用仍然是一个重大挑战。在进行环境处理之前，需要专门设计的生物来降解炼油厂废水流中的有毒芳香族成分。如果要在封闭的、对环境安全的反应器中通过生物方法（有氧或无氧）降解含油污泥，还需要具有特定微生物种群的专门设计的反应器。
Studies on the environmental fate of petroleum have demonstrated the nearly ubiquitous distribution of microorganisms that can metabolize hydrocarbons. The rates of degradation depend upon the concentrations of such microbes and upon the environmental characteristics of an oil-contaminated ecosystem. Given the appropriate environmental conditions, microorganisms effectively decontaminate, by their biodegradative metabolism, environments that have received petroleum pollutants. Higher-molecular-weight compounds, especially those with multiple condensed ring structures and with highly branched or substituted compounds, are relatively resistant to microbial attack. Despite the fact that a genetically engineered hydrocarbon degrader was the first organism ever patented and that seed cultures are produced by various commercial firms, enhanced biodegradation as a result of seeding generally has not been shown to be effective. Also, even though some anaerobes have now been demonstrated to be capable of hydrocarbon metabolism, hydrocarbons persist indefinitely in anoxic environments. Environmental modification, on the other hand, such as that achieved by aeration or fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus, has been shown to enhance biodegradative removal of hydrocarbons. Having considered the various factors that influence the rates of hydrocarbon biodegradation, we are left with the question of what to do when environmental oil contamination occurs in order to minimize its persistence and thus its long-term effects. Clearly, treatment methods should enhance rather than inhibit the natural rates of oil biodegradation. In some cases, it is possible to modify environmental parameters to enhance rates of hydrocarbon biodegradation, but such methods are rarely undertaken. The translation of our scientific knowledge of hydrocarbon biodegradation into practical applications remains a major challenge. Specifically designed organisms are needed to degrade toxic aromatic components of refinery waste streams before environmental treatment. Specially designed reactors with specific microbial populations are also needed if oily sludges are to be degraded by biological means, either aerobically or anaerobically, in contained, environmentally safe reactors.