Bacterial influence on partitioning rate during the biodegradation of styrene in a biphasic aqueous-organic system.

The degradation by a consortium of slightly-halophile marine bacteria of styrene initially dissolved in silicone oil was monitored in batch reactors stirred at 75, 125 and 500 rpm, respectively. In the 75 and 125 rpm cases, the styrene biodegradation rate was higher than the rate of spontaneous partitioning of styrene from the oil to the water, determined under abiotic conditions. Abiotic transfer tests carried out after biodegradation runs revealed that bacterial activity had resulted in a significant increase in the rate of styrene partitioning between the two liquid phases. Even though bacterial adsorption was noticeable at the oil-water interface, this effect appeared to be due to the release by the bacteria of chemicals in the aqueous phase. Similarity with observations made with Triton X-100 suggested that the chemicals released may have been biosurfactants or solubilizing agents.