Author(s)

M. Arroyo-Caraballo & G. Colon-Burgos

Abstract

Biodegradation in soil and ground water is the most significant process able to destroy xenobiotic compounds present in the environment. The mineralization, or complete biodegradation, of an organic compound in water and soil is almost always due to microbial activity. Many industries in Puerto Rico routinely use these organic compounds (e.g. toluene) as solvent in their manufacturing processes. In this work the aerobic microbial biodegradation of toluene was studied in batch cultures. The biodegradation by indigenous microbial populations was measured in samples collected from industrial polluted areas around Puerto Rico. A toluene-degrading bacterium was isolated, purified, and identifie

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