![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
The aerobic degradation of alkyl-substituted phenanthrenes by a community of bacteria was studied. The analysis of the degradation of two methylphenanthrenes has shown the influence of the methyl-group position on the biodegradation rate. The 2-methylphenanthrene has appeared as more degraded than the 9-methylphenanthrene. Two possible metabolites of degradation were identified: the 2-hydroxymethylphenanthrene and the phenanthrene-2-carboxaldehyde. The oxidation of the methyl-group seems to be the first step of the degradation.