PREDICTION OF THE BIODEGRADATION OF PETROLEUM THIOPHENE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL

Thiophene is a tar component and is often present at sites contaminated by benzene that is one of the most widespread contaminants in soil and groundwater. Earlier research shows that thiophene is resistant to biological degradation, but it can be degraded cometabolically with benzene or other aromatic hydro-carbons as a primary substrate. This study summarises the available knowledge about the thiophene degradation (observed and predicted). This work considered the probable biodegradation of thiophene from petroleum spills under environment. The obtained results from the prediction of the biodegradation for the petroleum thiophene by the OECD (Q)SAR Application Toolbox system are restricted. Metabolites of the heterocyclic compound as thiophene based on observed microbial metabolism were not demonstrated, but six metabolites in the microbial metabolism simulator were predicted.