Sequential enrichment of microbial populations exhibiting enhanced biodegradation of crude oil

1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 767-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasthuri Venkateswaran ◽  
Shigeaki Harayama
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Microbial Population ◽  
Saturated Hydrocarbon ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Microbial Culture ◽  
Initial Screening ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Enhanced Biodegradation ◽  
Enriched Cultures

The distribution of oil-degrading bacteria in the coastal water and sediments of Hokkaido, Japan, was surveyed. The potential of mixed microbial populations to degrade weathered crude oil was not confined to any ecological components (water or sediment) nor to the sampling stations. One microbial culture that was stable during repeated subculturing degraded 45% of the saturates and 20% of the aromatics present in crude oil in 10 days during the initial screening. The residual hydrocarbons in this culture were extracted by chloroform and dispersed in a fresh seawater-based medium and subsequently inoculated with microorganisms from the first culture. After full growth of the second culture, the residual hydrocarbons were again extracted and dispersed in a fresh medium in which microorganisms from the second culture had been inoculated. This sequential process was carried out six times to enrich those microorganisms that grew on the recalcitrant components of crude oil. After repeated exposure of the residual crude oil to the enriched microorganisms, about 80% of the initially added crude oil was degraded. The cultures obtained after each enrichment cycle were kept, and the degradation of fresh crude oil by the enriched microorganisms was examined. The degradative activity of the enriched cultures increased as the number of enrichment cycles increased. A microbial population that had been selected six times on the residual crude oil could degrade 70% of the saturates and 30% of the aromatics of crude oil. Thus, growth of a microbial population on residual crude oil improved its ability to biodegrade crude oil.Key words: crude oil, biodegradation, sequential enrichment, saturated hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon.

scholarly journals Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1200
Author(s):  
Gareth E. Thomas ◽  
Jan L. Brant ◽  
Pablo Campo ◽  
Dave R. Clark ◽  
Frederic Coulon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Hydrocarbon Biodegradation ◽  
Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Response ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Interfacial Surface ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Oil Spill Response

This study evaluated the effects of three commercial dispersants (Finasol OSR 52, Slickgone NS, Superdispersant 25) and three biosurfactants (rhamnolipid, trehalolipid, sophorolipid) in crude-oil seawater microcosms. We analysed the crucial early bacterial response (1 and 3 days). In contrast, most analyses miss this key period and instead focus on later time points after oil and dispersant addition. By focusing on the early stage, we show that dispersants and biosurfactants, which reduce the interfacial surface tension of oil and water, significantly increase the abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, and the rate of hydrocarbon biodegradation, within 24 h. A succession of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB), driven by metabolite niche partitioning, is demonstrated. Importantly, this succession has revealed how the OHCB Oleispira, hitherto considered to be a psychrophile, can dominate in the early stages of oil-spill response (1 and 3 days), outcompeting all other OHCB, at the relatively high temperature of 16 °C. Additionally, we demonstrate how some dispersants or biosurfactants can select for specific bacterial genera, especially the biosurfactant rhamnolipid, which appears to provide an advantageous compatibility with Pseudomonas, a genus in which some species synthesize rhamnolipid in the presence of hydrocarbons.

Effect of Dispersants on Oil Biodegradation Under Simulated Marine Conditions

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. J. Swannell ◽  
Fabien Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Hydrocarbon Biodegradation ◽  
Dispersed Oil ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Aliphatic And Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Neutrally Buoyant

ABSTRACT A study was undertaken on the dispersion, microbial colonisation and biodegradation of chemically-dispersed weathered Forties crude oil under simulated marine conditions in laboratory microcosms. The measurements of droplet size, number and microbial colonisation were made using new techniques developed by the project team. Rapid growth of indigenous micro-organisms capable of degrading both crude oil and dispersants was observed in the presence of chemically-dispersed oil. These organisms colonised the dispersed oil and biodegraded the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. These processes was stimulated by the addition of inorganic nutrients. Some colonised droplets agglomerated into neutrally-buoyant “clusters” (100 µm- 2 mm diameter) consisting of oil, bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes. After substantial hydrocarbon biodegradation these clusters sank to the bottom of the microcosms. No biodegradation or cluster formation was noted in “killed” controls in which biological activity had been inhibited. Different dispersants promoted microbial growth to differing extents. These results suggest that the addition of dispersants can increase the rate of oil biodegradation under natural conditions by promoting the growth of indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, as well as increasing the surface area of oil available for microbial colonisation.

Influence of chemical surfactants on the biodegradation of crude oil by a mixed bacterial culture

1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D Van Hamme ◽  
O P Ward
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Structure ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽  
Bacterial Culture ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽  
Mixed Bacterial Culture ◽  
Nonylphenol Ethoxylate ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Enhanced Biodegradation ◽  
Microbial Systems

The effects of surfactant physicochemical properties, such as the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) and molecular structure, on the biodegradation of 2% w/v Bow River crude oil by a mixed-bacterial culture were examined. Viable counts increased 4.6-fold and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) biodegradation increased 57% in the presence of Igepal CO-630, a nonylphenol ethoxylate (HLB 13, 0.625 g/L). Only the nonylphenol ethoxylate with an HLB value of 13 substantially enhanced biodegradation. The surfactants from other chemical classes with HLB values of 13 (0.625 g/L) had no effect or were inhibitory. TPH biodegradation enhancement by Igepal CO-630 occurred at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration. When the effect of surfactant on individual oil fractions was examined, the biodegradation enhancement for the saturate and aromatic fractions was the same. In all cases, biodegradation resulted in increased resin and asphaltene concentrations. Optimal surfactant concentrations for TPH biodegradation reduced resin and asphaltene formation. Chemical surfactants have the potential to improve crude oil biodegradation in complex microbial systems, and surfactant selection should consider factors such as molecular structure, HLB, and surfactant concentration.Key words: mixed culture, crude oil, surfactant, hydrophile-lipophile balance, biodegradation.

scholarly journals Response and oil degradation activities of a northeast Atlantic bacterial community to biogenic and synthetic surfactants

Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina N. Nikolova ◽  
Umer Zeeshan Ijaz ◽  
Clayton Magill ◽  
Sara Kleindienst ◽  
Samantha B. Joye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Oil Degradation ◽  
Northeast Atlantic ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Degrading Bacteria

Abstract Background Biosurfactants are naturally derived products that play a similar role to synthetic dispersants in oil spill response but are easily biodegradable and less toxic. Using a combination of analytical chemistry, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and simulation-based approaches, this study investigated the microbial community dynamics, ecological drivers, functional diversity and robustness, and oil biodegradation potential of a northeast Atlantic marine microbial community to crude oil when exposed to rhamnolipid or synthetic dispersant Finasol OSR52. Results Psychrophilic Colwellia and Oleispira dominated the community in both the rhamnolipid and Finasol OSR52 treatments initially but later community structure across treatments diverged significantly: Rhodobacteraceae and Vibrio dominated the Finasol-amended treatment, whereas Colwellia, Oleispira, and later Cycloclasticus and Alcanivorax, dominated the rhamnolipid-amended treatment. Key aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, like Cycloclasticus, was not observed in the Finasol treatment but it was abundant in the oil-only and rhamnolipid-amended treatments. Overall, Finasol had a significant negative impact on the community diversity, weakened the taxa-functional robustness of the community, and caused a stronger environmental filtering, more so than oil-only and rhamnolipid-amended oil treatments. Rhamnolipid-amended and oil-only treatments had the highest functional diversity, however, the overall oil biodegradation was greater in the Finasol treatment, but aromatic biodegradation was highest in the rhamnolipid treatment. Conclusion Overall, the natural marine microbial community in the northeast Atlantic responded differently to crude oil dispersed with either synthetic or biogenic surfactants over time, but oil degradation was more enhanced by the synthetic dispersant. Collectively, our results advance the understanding of how rhamnolipid biosurfactants and synthetic dispersant Finasol affect the natural marine microbial community in the FSC, supporting their potential application in oil spills.

scholarly journals Response and oil degradation activities of a northeast Atlantic bacterial community to biogenic and synthetic surfactants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Nikolova ◽  
Umer Zeeshan Ijaz ◽  
Clayton Magill ◽  
Sara Kleindienst ◽  
Samantha B. Joye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Oil Degradation ◽  
Northeast Atlantic ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Degrading Bacteria

AbstractBackgroundAlthough synthetic dispersants are effective in dispersing crude oil, they can alter the natural microbial response to oil and potentially hinder its biodegradation. Biosurfactants, however, are naturally derived products that play a similar role to synthetic dispersants in oil spill response but are easily biodegradable and less toxic. This study investigated the microbial community dynamics, ecological drivers, functional diversity, and oil biodegradation potential of a northeast Atlantic marine microbial community to crude oil when exposed to rhamnolipid or synthetic dispersant Finasol OSR52.ResultsWe found the microbial community composition and diversity were markedly different in the rhamnolipid-amended treatment compared to that with Finasol, with key aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria like Cycloclasticus being suppressed in the Finasol treatment but not in oil-only and rhamnolipid-amended treatments. Psychrophilic Colwellia and Oleispira dominated the community in both the rhamnolipid and Finasol OSR52 treatments initially but later community structure across treatments diverged significantly: Rhodobacteraceae and Vibrio dominated the Finasol-amended treatment and Colwellia, Oleispira, and later Cycloclasticus and Alcanivorax, dominated the rhamnolipid-amended treatment. Vibrio abundance increased substantially in treatments receiving Finasol, suggesting a potentially important role for these organisms in degrading dispersant components. In fact, Finasol was linked with a negative impact on alpha diversity. Deterministic environmental filtering played a dominant role in regulating the community assembly in all treatments but was strongest in the dispersant-amended treatments. Rhamnolipid-amended and oil-only treatments had the highest functional diversity, however, the overall oil biodegradation was greater in the Finasol treatment, but aromatic biodegradation was highest in the rhamnolipid treatment.ConclusionOverall, the natural marine microbial community in the northeast Atlantic responded differently to crude oil dispersed with either synthetic or biogenic surfactants over time, but oil degradation was more enhanced by the synthetic dispersant. Collectively, our results advance the understanding of how rhamnolipid biosurfactants affect the natural marine microbial community, supporting their potential application in oil spills.

Bio-Treatment of Crude Oil Polluted Water Using Mixed Microbial Populations of P. Aureginosa, Penicillium Notatum, E. Coli and Aspergillus Niger

2009 ◽  
Vol 62-64 ◽  
pp. 802-807
Author(s):  
K.O. Obahiagbon ◽  
C.N. Owabor
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Niger ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Microbial Population ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
Penicillium Notatum ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Hydrocarbon Content ◽  
Total Hydrocarbon Content

Bioremediation as a strategy of clean- up of crude oil spills in water using a mixed microbial population of E. Coli, Aspergillus niger, Penicillum notatum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated in this study. The sample of crude oil polluted water containing the mixed microbes and the control was monitored for parameters such as BOD, pH, Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) and Turbidity over a period of nine weeks. At the end of the bioremediation period, the results obtained showed that the sample remediated with the mixed microbes gave a THC drop from 14975mg/l -1.960mg/l (99.9% drop) compared to the control with a drop from 14975 – 18.72mg/l (99.8% drop). A BOD drop from 1447.4mg/l – 17.1mg/l (98.8?% drop) for the sample mixed microbes and 1447.4 – 90.8mg/l (93.7% drop) for the control. Turbidity values increased from 5.0 NTU – 25.2NTU for sample with mixed microbes and 5.0 NTU – 23.1 NTU for the control. The values of THC (1.96 mg/l) and BOD (17.1 mg/l) at the end of the experimentation period fell within the FEPA and DPR limits of 10mg/l and 30mg/l for THC and BOD respectively.The results above thus indicates that the use of mixed microbial population of Pseudomonas aureginosa, Penicillium notatum, E. Coli and

scholarly journals Free and Immobilized Microbial Culture–Mediated Crude Oil Degradation and Microbial Diversity Changes Through Taxonomic and Functional Markers in a Sandy Loam Soil

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Khandelwal ◽  
Ramya Sugavanam ◽  
B. Ramakrishnan ◽  
Anirban Dutta ◽  
Eldho Varghese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Methyl Cellulose ◽  
Tween 80 ◽  
Sandy Loam Soil ◽  
Functional Markers ◽  
Microbial Culture ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Loam Soil

Crude oil contamination of soil and water resources is a widespread issue. The present study evaluated the degradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons (C11–C36) in crude oil by 17 bacteria isolated from a crude oil–contaminated soil. The results suggested that Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were the best hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in the presence of surfactant Tween-80 (0.1% w/v). Based on the present investigation and a previous study, Pseudomonas sp. + B. amyloliquefaciens and fungus Aspergillus sydowii were identified as best oil degraders and were immobilized in alginate–bentonite beads, guargum–nanobenonite water dispersible granules (WDGs), and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC)–bentonite composite. Sandy loam soil was fortified with 1, 2, and 5% crude oil, and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation efficiency of free cultures and bio-formulations was evaluated in sandy loam soils. Compared to a half-life (t1/2) of 69.7 days in the control soil (1% oil), free cultures of Pseudomonas sp. + B. amyloliquefaciens and A. sydowii degraded TPH with t1/2 of 10.8 and 19.4 days, respectively. Increasing the oil content slowed down degradation, and the t1/2 in the control and soils inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. + B. amyloliquefaciens and A. sydowii was 72.9, 14.7, and 22.2 days (2%) and 87.0, 23.4, and 30.8 days (5%), respectively. Supplementing soil with ammonium sulfate (1%) enhanced TPH degradation by Pseudomonas sp. + B. amyloliquefaciens (t1/2–10 days) and A. sydowii (t1/2–12.7 days). All three bio-formulations were effective in degrading TPH (1%), and the t1/2 was 10.7–11.9 days (Pseudomonas sp. + B. amyloliquefaciens and 14–20.2 days (A. sydowii) and were at par with free cultures. Microbial diversity analysis based on taxonomic markers and functional markers suggested that the bioaugmentation process helped keep soil in the active stage and restored the original microbial population to some extent. The present study concluded that bio-formulations of crude oil–degrading microbes can be exploited for its degradation in the contaminated environment.

scholarly journals Response and Oil Degradation Activities of a Northeast Atlantic Bacterial Community to Biogenic and Synthetic Surfactants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Nikolova ◽  
Umer Zeeshan Ijaz ◽  
Clayton Magill ◽  
Sara Kleindienst ◽  
Samantha B. Joye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Oil Degradation ◽  
Northeast Atlantic ◽  
Oil Biodegradation ◽  
Degrading Bacteria

Abstract Background: Biosurfactants, however, are naturally derived products that play a similar role to synthetic dispersants in oil spill response but are easily biodegradable and less toxic. Using a combination of analytical chemistry, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and simulation-based approaches, this study investigated the microbial community dynamics, ecological drivers, functional diversity and robustness, and oil biodegradation potential of a northeast Atlantic marine microbial community to crude oil when exposed to rhamnolipid or synthetic dispersant Finasol OSR52. Results: Psychrophilic Colwellia and Oleispira dominated the community in both the rhamnolipid and Finasol OSR52 treatments initially but later community structure across treatments diverged significantly: Rhodobacteraceae and Vibrio dominated the Finasol-amended treatment, whereas Colwellia, Oleispira, and later Cycloclasticus and Alcanivorax, dominated the rhamnolipid-amended treatment. The key aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria like Cycloclasticus was not observed in the Finasol treatment but it was abundant in the oil-only and rhamnolipid-amended treatments. Overall, Finasol had a significant negative impact on the community diversity, weakened the taxa-functional robustness of the community, and caused a stronger environmental filtering, more so than oil-only and rhamnolipid-amended oil treatments. Rhamnolipid-amended and oil-only treatments had the highest functional diversity, however, the overall oil biodegradation was greater in the Finasol treatment, but aromatic biodegradation was highest in the rhamnolipid treatment. Conclusion: Overall, the natural marine microbial community in the northeast Atlantic responded differently to crude oil dispersed with either synthetic or biogenic surfactants over time, but oil degradation was more enhanced by the synthetic dispersant. Collectively, our results advance the understanding of how rhamnolipid biosurfactants and synthetic dispersant Finasol affect the natural marine microbial community in the FSC, supporting their potential application in oil spills.

Response of microbial populations in Arctic tundra soils to crude oil

1977 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1327-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J. Sexstone ◽  
Ronald M. Atlas
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Arctic Tundra ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
Tundra Soils ◽  
Downward Migration ◽  
Oil Biodegradation

Experimental crude oil spillages of 5 and 12 ℓ/m2 were established on the four major topographically distinguished soils of Arctic coastal polygonized tundra. The response of microbial populations to contaminating oil was found to depend on soil type and depth. Increases in numbers of heterotrophs were initially restricted to the top 2 cm of the soils. Increases in oil-degrading populations were found in oil-treated soils. Increases in microbial populations in subsurface soils paralleled downward migration of the oil. Some of the observed population increases probably resulted from input of plant residues and products from oil biodegradation.

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