Microbiological Metabolism of Creosote

Pressure impregnation of wood with creosote is the most effective treatment known for preventing attack by marine borers. However, in a harbor environment, creosote in wood pilings undergoes a chemical change which makes the wood more susceptible to attack by borers. In warm water harbors, service lives of only 5 to 10 years are common. Wood chips, removed from creosoted pilings in Port Hueneme harbor, were used to inoculate a sea water nutrient broth-creosote (or creosote constituent) media with mixed microorganisms. Similar chips were autoclaved and placed in the same media to act as controls. The chips were incubated at 74?F.?2?. Periodically, the creosote or creosote constituent remaining was measured by direct weighing or spectrophotometry. Mixed microorganisms present on creosoted piling were found to have the ability to metabolize creosote, causing loss of creosote and producing chemical changes similar to those which occur naturally in pilings exposed in a submerged marine environment. Two aromatic hydrocarbon compounds present in creosote, naphthalene, and phenanthrene were found to be metabolized to a significant extent. Pseudomonas creosotensis isolated from the mixed organisms was found to have the ability to utilize a number of neutral constituents of creosote as a source of energy. Conversely, acidic and basic constituents of creosote were found to inhibit growth. Whole creosote initially promoted growth of P. creosotensis but later inhibited it.

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