Low concentrations of SDS (SO-100 mg I-1) stimulated hydrocarbon biodegradation in liquid culture
significantly, without affecting the abiotic hydrocarbon loss. Remarkably, this stimulation occurred only very
late when the SDS was already lily degraded and when hydrocarbon loss had already reached a “saturation
plateau”. Possibly SDS is able to enhance hydrocarbon bioavailability on a long-term-basis. Surfactants at
low concentrations (So-100 mg l-1) were found to be useful for bioremediation of sites contaminated with
sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene and biphenyl; the extent of hydrocarbon
desorption and mineralization was enhanced in nutrient-amended aquifer sand and in soil slurries [9].