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. 1989 Jun;55(6):1357–1362. doi: 10.1128/aem.55.6.1357-1362.1989

Biodegradation of Asphalt Cement-20 by Aerobic Bacteria

John P Pendrys 1
PMCID: PMC202871  PMID: 16347928

Abstract

Seven gram-negative, aerobic bacteria were isolated from a mixed culture enriched for asphalt-degrading bacteria. The predominant genera of these isolates were Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Flavimonas, and Flavobacterium. The mixed culture preferentially degraded the saturate and naphthene aromatic fractions of asphalt cement-20. A residue remained on the surface which was resistant to biodegradation and protected the underlying asphalt from biodegradation. The most potent asphalt-degrading bacterium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NAV2, excretes an emulsifier which is capable of emulsifying the saturate and naphthene aromatic fractions of asphalt cement-20. This emulsifier is not denatured by phenol.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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