Microbial transformation of hydrophobic polyaromatic hydrocarbons with the emergence of hazardous benzene derivatives

Microbial transformation of phenanthrene in the groundwater of the riverbank filtration zone is the aim of this study. Seasonal monitoring of the groundwater, conducted by the Institute of the Water and Ecology Problems FEB RAS, confirmed the presence of phenanthrene in the water samples. The results of the experimental modeling showed that phenanthrene transformation was significantly affected bytemperature and adaptive potential of microbial communities. The degradation of phenanthrene by microbial consortia is accompanied by methylated transformation byproducts (benzene derivatives) impairing water quality and water treatment.