Microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons: an environmental perspective.

INTRODUCTION 180 CHEMISTRY OF PETROLEUM BIODEGRADATION . 180 Degradation of Individual Hydrocarbons ...... 180 Degradation of Hydrocarbons Within Petroleum Mixtures ..... 182 TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS OF HYDROCARBON-UTILIZING MICROORGANISMS .............................. ... .. 184 DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCARBON-UTILIZING MICROORGANISMS ...... 186 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING BIODEGRADATION OF PETCROLEUM HYDROCARBONS ........................................... 189 PHYSICAL STATE OF OIL POLLUTANTS ................................... 189 TEMPERATURE .................................................. 190 NUTRIENTlS ..........192............................. 192 OXYGEN .......... 194 SALINITY AND PRESSURE .................... 195 CASE HISTORIES ..................... 196 CONCLUSIONS ..................... 198 LITERATURE CITED .................... 199