Hydrophobic Surface Induced Biosorption and Microbial Ex Situ Remediation of Oil-Contaminated Sites

Abstract

Microbial bioremediation of spilled oil is the most sustainable and eco-friendly approach, yet the slower biodegradation rate remains a challenge for researchers. An integrated strategy of biodegradation along with a faster removal method like adsorption is one of the options available to address this challenge. In this study, we have explored the surface-induced biosorption coupled microbial biodegradation approach for effective remediation. Low-cost bagasse was used as a biosorbent and its surface hydrophobicity was improved by forming octyl self-assembled monolayers to enhance the surface-oil interactions (adsorption). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was exploited for biodegradation because of its known oil degradation and biosurfactant production abilities. An enhanced oil adsorption capacity of 6.9 ± 0.3 g/g was obtained after surface modification of the bagasse. The rate of adsorption was 2.5 fold higher as compared to unmodified bagasse. A kinetic model is proposed for the integrated process, which agreed to simultaneous biosorption and biodegradation. The microbial oil biodegradation rate was improved by 17 fold in the case of the integrated process. This integrated approach was found to synergistically improve the overall remediation of crude oil, which was also correlated with alkane hydroxylase activity and biosurfactant production. Preadsorbed oil on hydrophobic bagasse improved oil availability for the adhered microbes. Further, the synthesis of biosurfactant amended the biodegradation process. Hence, in the foreseeable future, hydrophobic biosorbents with excellent adsorption capacity, stability, and reusability shall be potential carriers for the bioremediation of contaminated sites.

Polyphasic Analysis Reveals Potential Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation and Biosurfactant Production by Rare Biosphere Thermophilic Bacteria From Deception Island, an Active Antarctic Volcano

“…We tested the isolates for their potential ability to degrade crude oil to use as a carbon source; over 50% of the isolates were able to grow in oil under thermophilic conditions. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are commonly assigned to Acinetobacter, Rhodococcus, Alcanivorax, Bacillus , and Pseudomonas , which are among the best-known genera ( Sharma et al, 2019 ; Sharma and Pandey, 2021 ). Although thermophiles have been widely described, only a few thermophilic hydrocarbon-degrading species have been reported ( Das and Chandran, 2011 ; Ivanova et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Bioremediation processes hold great promise for exploiting the ability of polar microbes to metabolize hydrocarbon substrates. For bioremediation strategies, it is first necessary to determine the structure and diversity of the microbial community in the contaminated site capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons, because the effectiveness of bioremediation will depend on the functionality of indigenous microorganisms in degrading the oil compounds ( Goswami et al, 2018 ; Sharma and Pandey, 2021 ). The hydrophobicity generally limits the rate of biodegradation; however, microbes can produce biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers, amphipathic organic molecules with tensioactive and emulsification effects, which enhance their access to target hydrocarbon substrates and bioavailability of the compound ( Pacwa-Płociniczak et al, 2011 ; Sharma et al, 2022 ).…”

Biosurfactants: Potential and Eco-Friendly Material for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Safety—A Review

“…Tensile CMC provided by B. subtilis ATCC21, 332 was recorded as 50 mg L21 by [206] incorporating CMC reduced from activated carbon to 10 mg L21. [212] recorded B. salmalaya 138SI biosurfactant CMC of 0.4%.…”

Reusing Waste to Save Our Water: Regenerable Bioadsorbents for Effective Oil Sequestration

“…where C ads is the concentration of adsorbate desorbed, C des is the concentration of adsorbate adsorbed, m is the quantity of adsorbent, and V is the volume of the desorbing solution [60][61][62]. Sharma and Pandey [63] made use of sugarcane bagasse for crude oil adsorption as a measure of oil spill bioremediation. The rate of adsorption in chemically treated bagasse was found to be 2.5 times that in unmodified bagasse.…”

“…Sharma and Pandey 63 made use of sugarcane bagasse for crude oil adsorption as a measure of oil spill bioremediation. The rate of adsorption in chemically treated bagasse was found to be 2.5 times that in unmodified bagasse.…”