ASPHALT OXIDIZING BACTERIA OF THE SOIL

THE SOIL MUST BE CONSIDERED AS THE NATURAL HABITAT OF HYDROCARBON UTILIZING BACTERIA. SOIL CONDITIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK-FILLED PIPELINE DITCH WERE STUDIED INTENSIVELY AND WERE FOUND TO BE FAVORABLE FOR MICROBIAL DEVELOPMENT. THE DATA REPORTED DEAL WITH ASPHALT-UTILIZING BACTERIA IN NORMAL SOILS RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL MICROBIAL POPULATION, THEIR NUMBERS AND TYPES IN SOILS WITH ASPHALT PRESENT, AND PROTECTIVE COATING FAILURE CAUSED BY MICROBIAL ACTIVITY. ASPHALTIC PROTECTIVE COATINGS USED TO STUDY BACTERIA UTILIZATION WERE ALL COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PRODUCTS. ROUTINE BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS FOLLOWED STANDARD LABORATORY PROCEDURES WITH NUTRIENT AGAR, JENSEN'S AGAR, AND MARTIN'S ROSE BENGAL AGAR USED FOR PLATE COUNTS OF TOTAL BACTERIA, ACTINOMYCETES, AND FILAMENTOUS FUNGI, RESPECTIVELY. OXYGEN UPTAKE BY THE SOILS FOLLOWED REGULAR WARBURG MANOMETRIC TECHNIQUES. BACTERIA CAPABLE OF GROWTH ON PARAFFINIC HYDROCARBONS ARE NORMAL INHABITANTS OF THE SOIL. POPULATIONS OF BACTERIA WITH THESE CAPABILITIES MAY VARY FROM SEVERAL HUNDRED TO THOUSANDS PER GRAM OF SOIL. ACTINOMYCETES COMMONLY ATTAIN COUNTS OF MILLIONS PER GRAM. RESPIRATION MEASUREMENTS SHOWED DODECANE IMMEDIATELY AND RAPIDLY IS OXIDIZED BY NORMAL SOIL, INDICATING LARGE POPULATIONS WITH THIS PHYSIOLOGICAL ABILITY. COUNTS OF ASPHALT-UTILIZING BACTERIA SHOWED MUCH HIGHER POPULATIONS IN SOIL ADJACENT TO COATED PIPELINES THAN IN UNDISTURBED SOIL OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AT THE SAME DEPTH.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 58, No 6, PP 65-69, 1 FIG, 4 TAB, 3 PHOT, 7 REF
• Authors:
  • Harris, J O
• Publication Date: 1966-6

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Industrial & Engineering Chemistry

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Asphalt additives; Bacteria; Hydrocarbons; Oxidation; Paraffin; Pipelines; Protective coatings; Soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil conditions
• Old TRIS Terms: Paraffinic component /asphalt/
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Pipelines; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00211535
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 26 1970 12:00AM