鼠李糖脂对不同菌株降解柴油污染物的影响

通过一系列实验分析了鼠李糖脂对柴油污染物生物降解的影响。单菌株柴油降解实验结果表明,在添加生物表面活性剂鼠李糖脂后,各菌株细胞表面疏水性均发生不同程度的增加,并且对柴油的降解率均有所提高。在混合菌的柴油污染物降解实验中,发现当向土壤中添加了200 mg/L鼠李糖脂时,对柴油的降解才有较大的提高;而当添加100 mg/L的鼠李糖脂到水体中时,对柴油的降解就有较大的提高,而当鼠李糖脂浓度提高为200 mg/L时,柴油的降解率却没有进一步明显的提高。这说明鼠李糖脂对柴油降解的影响程度不仅与环境介质有关,还与添加的鼠李糖脂浓度有关。进一步分析表明,添加适当浓度的鼠李糖脂不仅可以提高对柴油的降解率,而且可加速其降解速度,缩短生物修复所需时间。     

生物表面活性剂在城市污泥静态强制通风好氧堆肥中的作用

采用静态强制通风好氧堆肥模式对城市剩余污泥进行堆肥降解,并研究了生物表面活性剂鼠李糖脂对堆肥过程的作用。结果表明,堆肥过程中,添加了质量分数为0.015%鼠李糖脂溶液堆制处理和空白对照堆制处理的堆温变化都明显呈现出中温期0～5 d、高温期6～12 d和降温期13～28 d 3个阶段。实验组比空白组的堆体升温快、高温期持续时间长、堆体的含水率高。鼠李糖脂的添加,使实验组的微生物数量高于空白组。添加鼠李糖脂的堆体和空白堆体的种子发芽指数(GI)在堆肥结束时分别为53.70%和50.80%,说明鼠李糖脂促进了堆肥的腐熟,但由于相对浓缩效应,堆肥产品的重金属含量略高于空白堆体。生物表面活性剂的介入促进了堆肥中木质纤维素的初步降解。研究表明,添加鼠李糖脂能够改善堆肥处理的微环境,促进有机质降解和堆肥的腐熟。     

假单胞菌L-01产表面活性剂的性能分析

通过对活性部位测定,表明菌株L-01产的生物表面活性剂主要是胞外型的糖脂类物质;提取生物表面活性剂后,采用红外扫描仪和紫外扫描仪测定其结构并进一步分析表明,该生物表面活性剂为鼠李糖脂。当以柴油为惟一碳源培养菌株L-01时,在生长的对数后期开始产鼠李糖脂,并在稳定期的初期达到最大值。菌株L-01产的鼠李糖脂对柴油具有良好的乳化能力,培养60 h时,其E24值高达95.2%。通常表面活性剂的临界胶束浓度(CMC)是指在水中测得的,而对鼠李糖脂在水中和土壤中的测定其CMC值后,结果发现两者差距很大,在水中的CMC为65 mg/L;而在土壤溶液中时,其CMC值高达185 mg/L,这一点对利用生物表面活性剂于石油污染生物修复具有重要的参考价值,因为添加的表面活性剂在高于CMC值时才能有效地提高生物修复效率。     

表面活性剂增效电动技术修复多环芳烃污染土壤

研究了电动修复过程中修复时间和表面活性剂Triton X-100、鼠李糖脂对多环芳烃芘污染土壤的修复效果的影响。结果表明,在电动修复过程中,随着修复时间的增加,芘的去除率相应提高。通过向电解液中添加表面活性剂Triton X-100,芘的去除率从11.64%提高到了23.42%,当在电解液中添加浓度为40倍CMC的鼠李糖脂后去除率升高至36.29%,阳极附近土壤甚至达到了92.49%,这表明Triton X-100和鼠李糖脂均能促进土壤中芘的溶解和迁移,鼠李糖脂的促进作用高于Triton X-100。     

白腐菌在固体培养基下对吲哚和吡啶的降解

研究了稻草秆粉介质中白腐菌对吲哚和吡啶的降解.实验结果表明,质量浓度分别为200、80 mg/L左右的吲哚可被白腐菌去除99%以上,质量浓度为74 mg/L吡啶的去除率为61.5%;白腐菌在稻草秆粉培养体系中对吲哚和吡啶的降解,符合零级反应动力学,其中反应速率常数K(高浓度吲哚)＞K(低浓度吲哚)＞K(吡啶);高低浓度吲哚和吡啶3个降解体系的漆酶活力在第6天达到最大;漆酶在吲哚和吡啶降解过程中起着较重要的作用,但酶活的变化与吲哚和吡啶的相对去除率不呈线性相关,稻草秆粉培养基中的介质和培养环境在降解过程中可能也起着重要作用.     

白腐菌应用于堆肥处理含木质素废物的研究

白腐菌对木质素具有较强的降解能力。通过在含大量木质素的模拟垃圾堆肥中采取添加白腐菌菌剂与不添加该菌剂2组实验对比,在相同堆肥处理条件下,接种菌剂的堆肥中木质素总量由274988mg降至15438mg,降解率达4386%,远高于未接种菌剂的堆肥中木质素的降解率,表明白腐菌可有效用于含木质素废弃物的堆肥处理,并有望于加速堆肥腐熟,提高堆肥效率。     

鼠李糖脂在铜绿假单胞菌NY3代谢烃过程中的生理作用

为了解鼠李糖脂在菌代谢烃过程中所起的具体作用,对NY3菌体生理生化指标进行测定,研究了NY3菌降解烃过程中,鼠李糖脂促进烃降解与细胞生理特性变化规律的相关性。结果表明,投加60、100和140 mg/L鼠李糖脂,能使正十六烷降解率分别提高23.7%、48.3%和32.2%,且产酸明显。鼠李糖脂能加快疏水性有机物的传质速度,与未加鼠李糖脂相比,鼠李糖脂浓度为100和140 mg/L时,菌细胞内积聚的正十六烷量增加12.5%和37.69%。鼠李糖脂存在下,NY3菌细胞内正十六烷吸收是一个积累和消耗相互交替的动态过程。鼠李糖脂使菌体细胞中疏水性脂类的相对含量和细胞表面的负电荷明显增加,但使所生长的细胞内脂多糖含量明显减少,生长过程投加鼠李糖脂浓度为60、100、140和200mg/L时,细胞中脂多糖含量分别减少45.65%、58.13%、45.61%、和59.44%。因此,鼠李糖脂能加快NY3菌对十六烷的降解,同时对代谢过程中菌体的生理生化特性有明显的改变。     

Tween系列表面活性剂对白腐菌降解氯丹的影响

为利用微生物技术去除环境中的氯丹等有机氯农药污染提供依据,研究了4种Tween系列非离子表面活性剂对白腐菌Phlebia lindtneri GB1027降解有机氯农药氯丹及其中间代谢产物的强化效果。结果表明,表面活性剂对氯丹的增溶效果明显,在浓度为2.0 g/L的Tween20、Tween40、Tween60和Tween80溶液中,氯丹的溶解度与在水中的溶解度相比分别提高了16.25、18.21、20.36和20.89倍。低浓度(0.05~1.0 g/L)的表面活性剂对白腐菌在PDB培养基中的生长具有促进作用,而2.0 g/L的表面活性剂则会抑制菌株的生长。在0.05~1.0 g/L浓度范围内,各表面活性剂可促进白腐菌对氯丹及其代谢产物的降解效果,且降解率随着表面活性剂浓度的升高而增加。其中,白腐菌在添加了1.0 g/L的Tween80的体系中培养15 d后,对氯丹、氧化氯丹和环氧七氯的降解率分别比对照提高了30.2%、48.0%和34.3%。而当表面活性剂浓度升高至2.0 g/L时,由于菌株的生长受到抑制而导致对降解的促进作用不明显,甚至下降。     

铜绿假单胞菌NY3所产表面活性剂对原油降解的影响

铜绿假单胞菌NY3是从石油污染土壤中分离出的一株能快速代谢疏水性化合物的菌种。研究了该菌产表面活性剂及对原油降解的作用。实验表明,在敞开体系中,投加82 mg/L NY3菌产的鼠李糖脂,240 h能使NY3对原油的降解率提高50%。投加甘油使NY3产鼠李糖脂与降解原油同步进行,与投加鼠李糖脂对原油降解的促进作用相近。投加9‰甘油使NY3在168 h对原油的降解率提高43%。NY3菌能同时降解原油中的直链烷烃及菲(Pr)和芘(Ph)等多环芳烃。在敞开体系中用少量甘油使产鼠李糖脂和降解原油同步进行,节约处理费用。研究结果为NY3菌株在露天石油污染环境修复中的应用奠定了基础。     

邻苯二甲酸二乙酯的微生物降解与吸附性能研究

邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)是一种环境中较为常见的环境激素类持久性有机污染物。DEP较为稳定,光解和水解都极为缓慢,微生物降解是主要去除途径。以高效降解菌Sphingobium.sp作为实验微生物,研究了其对DEP的表观去除、降解及吸附行为,同时考察表面活性剂(包括吐温80、吐温40和鼠李糖脂)、溶解性有机质(DOM)和葡萄糖对其降解的影响。结果表明,降解是该降解菌去除DEP的主要途径,吸附的影响非常小。吐温80在高浓度时促进DEP的降解,低浓度时抑制;鼠李糖脂在高浓度时抑制,低浓度时促进;吐温40在不同浓度下均呈现出抑制作用。添加DOM和葡萄糖后,DEP的降解效果增强。     

简青霉对水溶液中碱木质素的吸附和降解的机理

通过一系列实验研究碳源浓度、培养箱转速、碱木质素浓度以及菌体活性等因素对简青霉菌丝球在溶液中吸附碱木质素的影响,并探讨其生物吸附机理;确定最佳碳源浓度和转速,分别为10 g/L和150 r/min。当碱木质素浓度小于0.5 g/L时,吸附效果较好,由菌丝球活性对照实验以及电镜照片可知吸附作用主要是由菌丝球的物理结构决定的,与其是否具有活性关系不大。通过吸附等温实验确定菌丝球的最大吸附量为30.3 mg/g,且吸附过程符合Langmuir等温吸附模型。另外,过氧化氢对木质素降解酶影响的实验证明,木质素过氧化物酶和锰过氧化物酶均需要过氧化氢的启动才能催化降解木质素,并且在降解过程中,木质素过氧化物酶和锰过氧化物酶的作用远远大于漆酶。     

Photocatalytic degradation of lignin using Pt/TiO2 as the catalyst

Photocatalytic degradation of lignin was studied with the use of catalysts TiO(2) and Pt/TiO(2). The influence of several experimental parameters, i.e. pH, catalyst dosage and illumination on lignin degradation was investigated. The results showed that application of UV irradiation alone has almost no effect on the reduction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and American Dye Manufacture Institute value (ADMI). However, the addition of TiO(2) and Pt/TiO(2) reduced the original DOC (251 mg l(-1)) by more than 40% within 30 min of treatment and the reaction can be simulated with pseudo-first order kinetics. Rapid degradation of lignin was observed in acidic solution using either TiO(2) or Pt/TiO(2) as the catalyst compared to high pH cases. The content of Pt in the Pt/TiO(2) catalyst is 1%. In addition, too much catalyst addition has not increased the DOC and ADMI reduction proportionally. The investigation also indicated that the photocatalytic degradation rates could be enhanced 1-6 times faster after doping TiO(2) with Pt in different pH cases. A modified Nernst type model was adopted to simulate the decoloring process using TiO(2) and Pt/TiO(2) based on the profiles of oxidation reduction potential during the photocatalytic reaction. The developed equation can be used to predict the color removal efficiency of lignin wastewater by the photocatalytic process.     

Evaluation of microbially enhanced composting of sophora flavescens residues

The effects of inoculants on the composting of Sophora flavescens residues were evaluated based on several physical, chemical and biological parameters, as well as the infrared spectra. Compared to the control compost without inoculants, the treatment compost with inoculants (Bacillus subtilis strain G-13 and Chaetomium thermophilum strain GF-1) had a significantly longer thermophilic duration, higher cellulase activity and a higher degradation rate of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin (P < 0.05). Thus, a higher maturity degree of compost with apparently lower C:N ratio (15.88 vs. 17.77) and NH₄-N:NO₃-N ratio (0.16 vs. 0.20) was obtained with the inoculation comparing with the control (P < 0.05). Besides, the inoculants could markedly accelerate the composting process and increase the maturity degree of compost as indicated by the germination index (GI) in which the treatment reached the highest GI of 133.2% at day 15 while the control achieved the highest GI of 125.7% at day 30 of the composting. Inoculation with B. subtilis and C. thermophilum is a useful method to enhance the S. flavescens residues composting according to this study.     

Parameters affecting azoxystrobin and imidacloprid degradation in biobed substrates in the North Indian tropical environment

Abstract

This study reports degradation of azoxystrobin (AZOXY) and imidacloprid (IMIDA) in the rice straw (RS)/corn cob (CC) and peat (P)/compost (C)-based biomixtures. The effect of biomixture preconditioning (10?days incubation prior to pesticide application), pesticide concentration and moisture content was evaluated. Results suggested that conditioning of biomixture greatly affected IMIDA degradation where half-life (t_1/2) was reduced by 5–9 times. This was attributed to higher microbial biomass carbon content and dehydrogenase activity in the conditioned biomixtures. Pesticide application in the conditioned biomixture did not show any negative impact on soil microbial parameters. Both pesticides degraded at faster rate in the rice straw-based biomixtures than in the corn cob-based biomixtures. Degradation slowed down with increase in initial concentration of pesticides in biomixture and 1.6–3.0 (AZOXY) and 2.4–3.6 (IMIDA) times increase in t_1/2 values was observed. The moisture content of biomixture showed positive effect on degradation which increased when moisture content was increased from 60 to 80% water holding capacity. The effect was significant for IMIDA degradation in the corn cob-based biomixtures and AZOXY degradation in the peat biomixtures. The rice straw-based biomixtures were better in degrading AZOXY and IMIDA and can be used in biopurification systems.     

Mycelial growth and solid-state fermentation of lignocellulosic waste by white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium under lead stress

Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant renewable resource difficult to degrade. Its bioconversion plays important roles in carbon cycles in nature, which may be influenced by heavy metals in environment. Mycelial growth and the degradation of lignocellulosic waste by lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium under lead stress were studied. It was shown that P. chrysosporium could grow in liquid media with 400 mg L?1 Pb(II), and mycelial dry weight was reduced by 54% compared to the control. Yellow mycelia in irregular short-strip shape formed in Pb-containing media, whereas the control showed ivory-white regular mycelial pellets. Two possible responses to Pb stress were: dense hyphae, and secretion from mycelia to resist Pb. During solid-state fermentation of straw, fungal colonization capability under Pb stress was positively correlated with the removal efficiency of soluble-exchangeable Pb when its content was higher than 8.2 mg kg?1 dry mass. Carboxymethyl cellulase activity and cellulose degradation were inhibited at different Pb concentrations, whereas low Pb concentrations increased xylanase and ligninolytic enzyme activities and the hemicellulose and lignin degradation. Cluster analyses indicated that Pb had similar effects on the different microbial indexes related to lignin and hemicellulose degradation. The present findings will advance the understandings of lignocellulose degradation by fungi under Pb pollution, which could provide useful references for developing metal-polluted waste biotreatment technology.     

稻秆负荷与pH对稻秆厌氧发酵产酸系统启动过程的影响

为探讨稻秆负荷（即稻秆VS/污泥VSS）与发酵pH对稻秆厌氧发酵产酸系统启动过程产挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs）效果的影响,利用厌氧搅拌罐反应系统考察在不同的稻秆负荷（0.556、0.945、1.334和1.724 g/g）和不同的发酵pH（8.0、9.0和10.0）启动运行条件下的产酸性能,并分析了系统启动过程产酸与稻秆主要成分降解之间的关系。实验结果表明,VFAs浓度随稻秆负荷提高而增大,随发酵pH的升高而降低;发酵18 d时,发酵pH为9.0时,稻秆负荷1.334 g/g的产酸效果最好,VFAs浓度与稻秆产酸量分别为4 385.10 mg/L和2.19 gVFAs/g稻秆,此时半纤维素、纤维素和酸性洗涤木质素降解率分别为32.69%、22.53%和6.40%;稻秆负荷为0.945 g/g条件下,VFAs浓度在pH为8.0时达到最高值4 409.51 mg/L,此时稻秆降解量也最多,半纤维素、纤维素和酸性洗涤木质素降解率分别为28.60%、47.32%和22.69%。研究表明,稻秆负荷与发酵pH通过影响稻秆半纤维素、纤维素和木质素的降解影响稻秆厌氧发酵产酸的进程和效果。     

Evaluation of biodegradation of nonylphenol ethoxylate and lignin by combining toxicity assessment and chemical characterization

The aerobic biodegradation of commercial nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) mixture and alkali lignin was studied using the OECD headspace test accompanied by the simultaneous measurement of ecotoxicity directly from the biodegradation liquors and by the follow-up of the chemical composition of the studied chemicals. NPE degradation was dependent on the inoculum source: approximately 40% of NPE was mineralized into CO₂ during the 4-week experiment when inoculum from Helsinki City wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was used, and only 12% was mineralized when inoculum from Jyväskylä City WWTP was used. Chemical analyses revealed a shift in the ethoxylate chain length from longer to shorter soon after the beginning of the NPE biodegradation tests. At the same time also toxicity (reverse electron transport assay, RET) and estrogenic activity (human estrogen receptor yeast) measured directly from the biodegradation liquors decreased. In case of alkali lignin, approximately 11% was mineralized in the test and chemical analysis showed in maximum a 30% decrease in lignin concentration. Toxicity of lignin biodegradation liquors started to decrease in the beginning of the test, but became more toxic towards the end of the test again. Especially RET assay proved to be sensitive enough for measuring toxicity changes directly from biodegradation liquors, although a concentrating treatment of the liquors is recommended for a more detailed characterization and identification of toxic metabolites.     

Decolourization and removal of some organic compounds from olive mill wastewater by advanced oxidation processes and lime treatment

Background Olive mill wastewater (OMW) generated by the olive oil extracting industry is a major pollutant, because of its high organic load and phytotoxic and antibacterial phenolic compounds which resist biological degradation. Mediterranean countries are mostly affected by this serious environmental problem since they are responsible for 95% of the worldwide oliveoil production. There are many methods used for OMW treatment, such as adsorption, electro coagulation, electro-oxidation, biological degradation, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), chemical coagulation, flocculation, filtration, lagoons of evaporation and burning systems, etc. Currently, there is no such economical and easy solution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of decolourization and removal of phenol, lignin, TOC and TIC in OMW by UV/H₂O₂ (AOPs). The operating parameters, such as hydrogen peroxide dosage, times, pH, effect of UV and natural sunlight were determined to find the suitable operating conditions for the best removal. Moreover, there is no study reported in the literature related to the use of UV/H₂O₂ and lime together in OMW treatment. Methods OMW was obtained from an olive-oil producing plant (Muğla area of Turkey) which uses a modern production process. No chemical additives are used during olive oil production. This study was realised by using two different UV sources, while taking the time and energy consumption into consideration. These two sources were mercury lamps and natural sunlight. Before starting AOPs experiments, one litre of OMW was treated by adding lime until a pH of 7.00. Then, 100 ml was taken from each sample, and 1 to 10 ml of a 30% H₂O₂ (Riedel-deHaen) solution was added. These solutions in closed vessels were laid in the natural sunlight for a week and their compositions and colour changes were analysed daily by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. At the end of the one-week period, they were treated with lime. In this study, the effect of changes in the initial pH, times and H₂O₂ concentrations on removal was investigated. At the end of all experiments, changes in colour, phenol, lignin, TOC and TIC concentrations were analysed according to standard methods. Results and Discussion In the samples exposed to natural sunlight and having an H₂O₂/OMW ratio of 3 ml/100 ml, a significant colour removal was achieved approximately 90% of the time at the end of 7 days. When the same samples were treated with lime (pH: up to 7), 99% efficiency was achieved. When phenol and lignin removals were examined in the same concentration, phenol and lignin removal were found 99.5%, 35%, respectively. However, for maximum lignin removal, more use of H₂O₂ (10 ml H₂O₂/100 ml OMW) was found to be necessary. Under these conditions, it was found that lignin can be removed by 70%, but to 90% with lime, at the end of a seven-day period. Rate constants obtained in the experiments performed with direct UV were found to be much higher than those of the samples exposed to natural sunlight (k^a _lignin = 0.3883 ≫ k^b _lignin = 0.0078; k^a _phenol = 0.5187 ≫ k^b _phenol = 0.0146). Moreover, it should be remembered in this process that energy consumption may induce extra financial burden for organisations. Conclusions It was found, in general, that colour, lignin, total organic carbon and phenol were removed more efficiently from OMW by using H₂O₂ UV and lime OMW. Moreover, in the study, lime was found to contribute, both initially and after radical reactions, to the efficiency to a great extent. Recommendations and Perspectives Another result obtained from the study is that pre-purification carried out with hydrogen peroxide and lime may constitute an important step for further purification processes such as adsorption, membrane processes, etc.     

Removal of AOX, total nitrogen and chlorinated lignin from bleached Kraft mill effluents by UV oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide utilizing TiO2 as photocatalyst

Background, aim, and scope  The pulp and paper industry is the sixth largest polluter discharging a variety of gaseous, liquid, and solid wastes into the environment. Effluents from bleached Kraft mill effluents (BKME) are polluting waters to a great extent These effluents cause considerable damage to the receiving waters if discharged untreated since they have high levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorinated compounds (measured as AOX), suspended solids (mainly fibers), fatty acids, tannins, resin acids, lignin and its derivatives, sulfur and sulfur compounds, etc. This study aimed to remove adsorbed organic halogen (AOX), total nitrogen, and lignin-degrading products in the wastewater (4,500 m³/h) from the paper mill in the pulp and paper industry, which is discharged to sea from a plant located in western Turkey. Materials and methods  The photocatalytic degradation of AOX, total nitrogen, and chlorinated lignin in BKME have been investigated in different parameters, such as time, H₂O₂ and TiO₂ concentration. In addition, for investigating the effect of chlorine on the removal of lignin, pure lignin solution was prepared in equal amounts to chlorinated lignin degradation products found in BKME. The same experiments were conducted for this solution. Experiments were carried out in photocatalytic reactor made of Pyrex glass. The mercury lamp was used as a radiation source. All irradiation was carried out under constant stirring. The existence of dissolved O₂ is an important factor which increases the photocatalytic degradation. Hence, we used an air pump for the aeration of the wastewater solutions. The temperature of the wastewater was controlled and adjusted to 25°C by thermostat pump in conjunction with a cooler. At the end of all experiments, AOX, total nitrogen and lignin concentrations were analyzed according to standard methods. All experiments were performed in duplicate and average values were used. Results and discussion  When the effect of H₂O₂ and time were investigated, it was observed that the AOX concentration increased from 3.0 to 11.0 mg/L by only UV. However, when H₂O₂ was added, AOX concentration decreased from approximately 3.0 to 0.0 mg/L. The optimal conditions for the removal of AOX appear to be an initial H₂O₂ concentration of 20.0 mL/L and reaction time of 50 min. In addition, at the same experiment conditions, it was seen that the total nitrogen concentration decreased from 23.0 to 15.0 mg/L by only UV and by increasing H₂O₂ concentration, the concentration of 20.0 mL/L H₂O₂ appears to be optimal (9.0 mg/L). The AOX, total nitrogen and lignin degradation products and pure lignin go through a minimum when the concentration of H₂O₂ and TiO₂ increases at constant pH and UV intensity. The kinetics for the degradation of AOX, total nitrogen and lignin degradation products followed a pseudo-first order law with respect to the products, and the degradation rates (min⁻¹) for the UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂ system were higher than that of the corresponding values for the UV/H₂O₂ system. Conclusions  The AOX, total nitrogen and lignin concentration go through a minimum when the concentration of H₂O₂ and TiO₂ increases at constant pH and UV intensity. It was found that the UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂ system has proved capable of the degradation of total nitrogen as well as chlorinated and degraded lignin in BKME. Recommendations and perspectives  The photocatalytic process can be considered a suitable alternative for the remove of some compounds from the BKME. Nevertheless, further studies should be carried out to confirm the practical feasibility of BKME. Another result obtained from the study is that pre-purification carried out with UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂ photocatalytic process may constitute an important step for further purification processes such as adsorption, membrane processes, etc.     

Evaluation of bioremediation effectiveness on crude oil-contaminated sand

A treatability study was conducted using sea sand spiked with 3% or 6% (w/w) of Arabian light crude oil to determine the most effective bioremediation strategies for different levels of contamination. The sea sand used in the study was composed of gravel (0.1%), sand (89.0%), and silt and clay (10.9%). The water content of the sea sand was adjusted to 12.6% (w/w) for the study. Different combinations of the following treatments were applied to the sand in biometer flasks: the concentration of oil (3% or 6%), the concentration of a mixture of three oil-degrading microorganisms (Corynebacterium sp. IC-10, Sphingomonas sp. KH3-2 and Yarrowia sp. 180, 1x10(6) or 1x10(8) cells g-1 sand), the concentration of the surfactant Tween 80 (1 or 10 times the critical micelle concentration), and the addition of SRIF in a C:N:P ratio of 100:10:3. Three biometer flasks per combination of experimental conditions were incubated, and the performance of each treatment was examined by monitoring CO2 evolution, microbial activity, and oil degradation rate. The results suggest that the addition of inorganic nutrients accelerated the rate of CO2 evolution by a factor of 10. The application of oil-degrading microorganisms in a concentration greater than that of the indigenous population clearly increased biodegradation efficiency. The application of surfactant slightly enhanced the oil degradation rate in the contaminated sand treated with the higher concentration of oil-degrading microorganisms. The initial CO2 evolution rate was shown to efficiently evaluate the treatability test by providing significant data within a short period, which is critical for the rapid determination of the appropriate bioremediation approach. The measurements of microbial activity and crude oil degradation also confirmed the validity of the CO2 evolution rate as an appropriate criterion.