Due to their lack of functional groups and low water solubility, alkanes show poor bioavailability for microorganisms.
dˈuː tə ðɛɹ lˈæk ʌv fˈʌŋkʃənəl ɡɹˈuːps ænd lˈoʊ wˈɔːɾɚ sˌɑːljuːbˈɪlᵻɾi, ˈælkeɪnz ʃˈoʊ pˈʊɹ bˌaɪoʊɐvˌeɪləbˈɪlᵻɾi fɔːɹ mˌaɪkɹoʊˈɔːɹɡənˌɪzəmz.