The Microbial Degradability of Aniline in River Water and an Attempt to Use the Level of the Biodegradability as an Indicator of Water Pollution.

Abstract

The microbial degradation of 6 chemicals in river water samples was tested using the cultivation method (Handai Method). Since aniline showed a regional difference, its microbial degradability was investigated in detail using the modified Handai Method to evaluate the possibility of its indication of water pollution caused by organic substances. The results were as follows. n-Butylacrylate was easy biodegradable and Diazinon was degraded to some degree. The microbial degradability of aniline in river water was different. The biodegradation rate increased slowly in unpolluted river water from rural areas, but increased rapidly in polluted river water from urban areas. Additionally, the biodegradation of aniline in these test samples was assumed to tend to be slightly higher in summer than in winter. This suggested that the microbial degradability of aniline in urban river water could be an indicator of water pollution because of the close correlation with the degree of water quality.