Maintenance energy model for microbial degradation of toxic chemicals in soil

A new kinetic model incorporating maintenance energy requirements is developed for use in the description of microbial degradation of toxic chemicals in soil. This model better describes extended, long-term CO2 respiration data that typically occurs when substrate concentrations are low. The model is tested with data from the respiration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) to CO2 and is shown to statistically fit better than an associated model without maintenance considerations.