The microbiological enzymatic oxidation of a hydrocarbon results in a fatty acid or carboxylic acid. When microbes biodegrade hydrocarbons, the following chemical reaction occurs:
C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C to C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-OOH

A hydrocarbon is one of the most simple and primitive of organic compounds. All living organisms produce hydrocarbons, one such example is plants, they synthesize waxes containing hydrocarbons in order to prevent leaf surface decay. This is what makes their leaves shiny. Almost all useable supplies of hydrocarbons are obtained from fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Hydrocarbons contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms. These atoms link together to form straight, branched chains, or ring structures commonly called PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons). Examples of common hydrocarbons are: gasoline, diesel fuels, lighter fluid, propane, home heating oil, marine and motor oil, fuels, cleaning solvents, hydraulic fluids, crude oil and lubricating oils.

Field Parameters:

• Dissolved oxygen (DO): Identifies aerobic and anaerobic regions of  contaminated site and the chemical, physical and biochemical activities occurring. (Low dissolved oxygen levels can limit the bacterial metabolism of certain organic compounds)
• pH: Identifies the acidity or alkalinity of water. A change in pH may be associated with microbial activity. The optimum pH for
• bioremediation is 4-9.
• Temperature: Optimal soil and water temperatures are 10º to 40ºC (50º F to 104º F).
• Conductivity: Conductivity is a good measure of the total amount of salts in solution (e.g., calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and others).

Attached is an excerpt from a paper given J B Hughes and CH Ward of Rice University concerning PAH’s. PAH's are also known as polynuclear or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They can be thought of as 'fused ring' compounds where one or side of a ring (benzene for example) is shared with another ring. For example, naphthalene (moth balls) is a PAH and is two
benzene rings with a common side.

The levels of degradability have been divided into three sections, from very easy to hard. Not all compounds are good candidates for bioremediation; many factors need to be taken into consideration. One such factor is biocompatibility; if the compound is toxic then it will most likely kill the microbes, therefore not making it a good candidate for bioremediation. Accurate and descriptive site analysis are essential for predictions of biodegradability rates. Ask how our biocompatibility tests can help ensure the success of your projects.