ABSTRACT
This research evaluated the anaerobic biodegradability of benzene, toluene, yethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), phenol, and p-cresol using microbial consortia derived from decomposing refuse samples. The effects of environmental conditions, pertinent to landfills, on phenol and p-cresol degradation were also studied. This study demonstrated that landfills harbor anaerobic microorganisms capable of degrading toluene, phenol, and p-cresol. In one consortium, phenol biodegradation was stimulated by both cellulose and nutrient additions and degradation was optimal at pH 6.5 to 7.0. An accumulation of the fermentation intermediates, benzoate and acetate, inhibited phenol biodegradation. The results show that it is possible to design landfill management strategies to promote contaminant biodegradation.
