Header menu link for other important links
X
Systematic investigations on the biodegradation and viscosity reduction of long chain hydrocarbons using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens
Published in Royal Society of Chemistry
2016
PMID: 26875795
Volume: 18
   
Issue: 3
Pages: 386 - 397
Abstract
The use of microorganisms has been researched extensively for possible applications related to hydrocarbon degradation in the petroleum industry. However, attempts to improve the effect of microorganisms on the viscosity of hydrocarbons, which find potential use in the development of robust models for biodegradation, have been rarely documented. This study investigates the degradation of long chain hydrocarbons, such as hexadecane and eicosane using Pseudomonas fluorescens PMMD3 (P. fluorescens) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa CPCL (P. aeruginosa). P. aeruginosa used here is isolated from petroleum contaminated sediments and the P. fluorescens is from the coastal area, and both have hydrocarbon degrading genes. The degradation of hydrocarbons is studied using carbon profiling and reduction in viscosity pre- and post-degradation of hydrocarbons. The carbon profiling has been obtained using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) results. GC-MS results have indicated an improved biodegradation of hydrocarbons by 77-93% in one day. The yield coefficients of biomass (YX/S) for P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens using hexadecane as a carbon source are 1.35 and 0.81 g g-1, and the corresponding values with eicosane are 0.84 and 0.88 g g-1. The viscosity of hexadecane is reduced by the order of 53 and 47%, while that of eicosane was reduced by 53 and 65%, using P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens, respectively. This study also presents information on the activity of enzymes responsible for the hydrocarbon degradation. Pseudomonas species have shown their use in potential applications for bioremediation, oil-spill treatment, and flow assurance. We believe that this study will also provide stringent tests for possible model development for the bioremediation of long chain paraffins suitable for oilfield applications. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetEnvironmental Science: Processes and Impacts
PublisherData powered by TypesetRoyal Society of Chemistry
ISSN20507887
Open AccessNo
Concepts (26)
  •  related image
    EICOSANE
  •  related image
    Hexadecane
  •  related image
    Hydrocarbon
  •  related image
    Petroleum
  •  related image
    Unclassified drug
  •  related image
    Pollutant
  •  related image
    Article
  •  related image
    Biodegradation
  •  related image
    Biomass
  •  related image
    Bioremediation
  •  related image
    Carbon source
  •  related image
    Controlled study
  •  related image
    Infrared spectrometry
  •  related image
    Mass fragmentography
  •  related image
    Nonhuman
  •  related image
    Priority journal
  •  related image
    Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  •  related image
    Pseudomonas fluorescens
  •  related image
    Seashore
  •  related image
    Sediment
  •  related image
    Viscosity
  •  related image
    Metabolism
  •  related image
    Biodegradation, environmental
  •  related image
    Environmental pollutants
  •  related image
    Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
  •  related image
    Hydrocarbons