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�.� ... _ R a R MAR f OXYGEN Bacteria's initial attack on hydrocarbons, such as petroleum products, commonly involves oxygenase enzymes (these being chemical compounds whose catalytic action is necessary for the transformation of oxygen) . This process requires molecular oxygen and so the availability of oxygen must be considered as an important limiting factor for petroleum degradation. When low to moderate concentrations of oil are thoroughly dispersed within aerobic water, it is unlikely that a lack of oxygen is a limiting factcr. However, in cases where pools of oil accumulate in soils and sediments, in regions of intense decomposition and in some grc,_ idwater, the development of anoxic conditions can severely limit the rate of biodegradation. MINERAL NUTRIENTS Petroleum is rich in carbon and energy, but deficient in those mineral nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and iron) necessary for microbial growth. Consequently, petroleum degrading microorganisms must obtain their essential mineral nutrients elsewhere. Proprietary projects Nave enjoyed superior degradation rates, in part, as of the utilization of mineral rich compost as a soil amendment. ADDITIONAL FACTORS in addition to the above, two processes are carefully considered in the biodegradation (microbial metabolism) of petroleum hydrocarbons. These are co-oxidation and sparing. Both + processes can, and probably most frequently do, occur within a petroleum spill. For example, acetate, an intermediate product in hydrocarbon biodegradation, has been found to reduce the utilization of hexadecane. The basis for this sparing effect is not well defined, but it certainly occurs for other hydro- carbons. Such phenomena do not alter the metabolic pathways of degradation, but determine whether the enzymes necessary for metabolic attack on a particular hydrocarbon are active, or even produced. These sparing effects have a marked influence on the persistence of particular hydrocarbons within a petroleum mixture and so significantly impact the degradation process. Co-oxidation is a process in which compounds which otherwise would not be dkigraded can be attacked by enzymes due to the abilities of the individual microorganisms producing those enzymes to utilize other hydrocarbons within the petroleum mixture. The complexities of petroleum compounds provide an excellent-chemical-environment in which-co-oxidation-can-occur. zz2.