Anaerobic degradation of hexadecane and phenanthrene coupled to sulfate reduction in seafloor sediments from the northern Gulf of Mexico

Sediment samples were collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico (29.3989N, -88.8678W) during an expedition with the R/V Weatherbird on August 21 in 2013, 87 kilometers NW from Macondo wellhead near the Mississippi river Delta at 56 m water depth. Surface (0-5 cm depth) sediment core samples were collected in sterile plastic bags for cultivation and immediately stored at 4˚C for 2 months until enrichment cultures were initiated. Sediment from the 0-5 cm depth interval was homogenized and supplemented as a 10% (w/v) inoculum with sterile anaerobic artificial seawater medium with either hexadecane or phenanthrene.