A microorganism, Klebsiella gr. 47, capable of degrading BTX(benzene, toluene and xylene) was isolated from oil-contaminated soil and its characteristics of BTX degradation were investigated. When benzene and toluene were fed to Klebsiella gr. 47 simultaneously, they showed competitive inhibition. The degradation rate of xylene was enhanced as much as 3 times when xylene was fed with benzene or toluene. Degradation rate of benzene and toluene was also enhanced by cocultured with Alcaligenes xylosoxidans. When benzene-adapted microorganism was used, each BTX compound was degraded efficiently within 5 hours.

• 염승호(서울대학교 화학공학과) | Sung-Ho Yeom (Dept. of Chemical Engieering, Seoul National University)
• 최석순(용인공업전문대학 제지공업과) | Suk-Soon Choi (Dept. of Paper Technology, Yongin Technical College)