Petroleum Pollutant Degradation by Surface Water Microorganisms (8 pp) |
| |
Authors: | Mališa P Antić Branimir Jovancicevic Miroslav M Vrvić Jan Schwarzbauer |
| |
Institution: | (1) Mališa P. Antić Center of Chemistry IChTM, Njegoševa 12 11000 Belgrade SERBIA & MONTENEGRO, , ,;(2) Professor Dr Branimir S. Jovančićević, Department of Chemistry, University of Belgrade Akademski trg 12-16, P.O.Box 158 11001 Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro, , ,;(3) Miroslav M. Vrvić Department of Chemistry University of Belgrade PO Box 158 11001 Belgrade SERBIA & MONTENEGRO, , ,;(4) Dr. Jan Schwarzbauer Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal Aachen University of Technology (RWTH) Lochnerstr. 4-20 52056 Aachen DEUTSCHLAND, , , |
| |
Abstract: | Background, Aims and Scope It is well known that the composition of petroleum or some of its processing products changes in the environment mostly under
the influence of microorganisms. A series of experiments was conducted in order to define the optimum conditions for an efficient
biodegradation of petroleum pollutant, or bioremediation of different segments of the environment. The aim of these investigations
was to show to what extent the hydrocarbons of a petroleum pollutant are degraded by microbial cultures which were isolated
as dominant microorganisms from a surface water of a wastewater canal of an oil refinery and a nitrogen plant. Biodegradation
experiments were conducted on one paraffinic, and one naphthenic type of petroleum during a three month period under aerobic
conditions, varying the following parameters: Inorganic (Kp) or an organic medium (Bh) with or without exposition to light.
Methods Microorganisms were analyzed in a surface water sample from a canal (Pančevo, Serbia), into which wastewater from an oil
refinery and a nitrogen plant is released. The consortia of microorganisms were isolated from the water sample (most abundant
species: Phormidium foveolarum - filamentous Cyanobacteria, blue-green algae and Achanthes minutissima, diatoms, algae). The
simulation experiments of biodegradation were conducted with the biomass suspension and crude oils Sirakovo (Sir, paraffinic
type) and Velebit (Ve, naphthenic type). After a three month period, organic substance was extracted by means of chloroform.
In the extracts, the content of saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols and fatty acids was determined (the
group composition). n-Alkanes and isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes, pristane and phytane, in the aliphatic fractions, were analyzed
using gas chromatography (GC). Total isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes and polycyclic alkanes of sterane and triterpane types were
analyzed by GC-MS.
Results and discussion. Paraffinic type petroleums have a significant loss of saturated hydrocarbons. For naphthenic type petroleum,
such a trend has not been observed. The most intensive degradation of n-alkanes and isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes (in paraffinic
oil) and isoprenoids (in naphthenic oil) was observed using the inorganic medium Kp in the light; the microbial conversion
is somewhat lower with Kp in the dark; with organic medium Bh in the light the degradation is of low intensity; with the same
medium in the dark the degradation is hardly to be seen. Steranes and triterpanes were not affected by microbial degradation
under the conditions used in our experiments. Obviously, the petroleum biodegradation was restricted to the acyclic aliphatics
(n-alkanes and isoprenoids).
Conclusion Phormidium foveolarum (filamentous Cyanobacteria - blue-green algae) and Achanthes minutissima (diatoms, algae), microbial
cultures isolated as dominant algae from a surface water in a wastewater canal of an oil refinery and a nitrogen plant, have
degradable effects dominantly involving petroleum hydocarbons. Petroleum microbiological degradation is more intensive when
inorganic medium (in the light) is applied. Having in mind that the inorganic pollutants have been released into the canal
as well, this medium reflects more the natural environmental conditions. Polycyclic alkanes of sterane and triterpane type,
in spite of the fact that these compounds could be degraded, have remained unchanged regarding abundance and distribution.
Since this is the case even for naphthenic type petroleum (which is depleted in n-alkanes), it can be concluded that the biodegradation
of petroleum type pollutants, under natural conditions, will be restrained to the n-alkane and isoprenoid degradation.
Recommendation and Outlook Performed experiments and simulations of petroleum microbiological degradation may serve for the prediction of the fate of
petroleum type pollutants, as well as for definition of conditions for bioremediation of some environmental segments. |
| |
Keywords: | surface water steranes and triterpanes achanthes minutissima n-alkanes and isoprenoids Phormidium foveolarum petroleum pollutant simulation of biodegradation |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|