Isolation and characterization of different bacterial strains for bioremediation of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

Crude oil is a common environmental pollutant composed of a large number of both aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Biodegradation is carried out by microbial communities that are important in determining the fate of pollutants in the environment. The intrinsic biodegradability of the hydrocarbons and the distribution in the environment of competent degrading microorganisms are crucial information for the implementation of bioremediation processes. In the present study, the biodegradation capacities of various bacteria toward aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were determined. The purpose of the study was to isolate and characterize hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from contaminated soil of a refinery in Arzew, Algeria. A collection of 150 bacterial strains was obtained; the bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and their ability to degrade hydrocarbon compounds characterized. The isolated strains were mainly affiliated to the Gamma-Proteobacteria class. Among them, Pseudomonas spp. had the ability to metabolize high molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds such as pristane (C19) at 35.11 % by strain LGM22 and benzo[a] pyrene (C20) at 33.93 % by strain LGM11. Some strains were able to grow on all the hydrocarbons tested including octadecane, squalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene. Some strains were specialized degrading only few substrates. In contrast, the strain LGM2 designated as Pseudomonas sp. was found able to degrade both linear and branched alkanes as well as low and high poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The alkB gene involved in alkane degradation was detected in LGM2 and other Pseudomonas-related isolates. The capabilities of the isolated bacterial strains to degrade alkanes and PAHs should be of great practical significance in bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments.

Role of environmental factors and microorganisms in determining the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment

“…2008; Guermouche M'rassi et al. 2015) as well as for the estimation of the PAH-degradation potential of microbial communities in the environment (Chadhain et al. 2006; Bacosa and Inoue 2015; Meynet et al.…”

The Occurrence of Paraffin and Other Petroleum Waxes in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Current Legislative Framework and Shipping Operational Practices

“…In laboratory conditions, various degrees of biodegradability of long-chain n-and iso-alkanes, paraffin wax and polyethylene waxes have been demonstrated by various strains of bacteria and fungi (e.g., Hanstveit, 1992;Marino, 1998;Rahman et al, 2003;Kawai et al, 2004;Sood and Lal, 2008;Zahed et al, 2010;M'rassi et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2016). No information however is currently available on the actual residence time of these substances at sea, as field studies on their actual biodegradation rates in the marine environment have never been performed.…”

Petroleum-hydrocarbons biodegradation by <i>Pseudomonas</i> strains isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil

“…The refinery receives crude oil from the production site of Hassi Messaoud (located at 900 km in the south of Algiers). The refinery represents one of the largest oil industrial zones of Africa [10]. The samples were taken (in October 2014) using a clean spatula at a depth of 20 cm.…”

“…Petroleum was filtered with Filter unit 0.22 μm. the hydrocarbon contaminated soil samples was obtained [10].…”