Self-cleaning of the Gulf

Sorkhoh, N.A.; Al-Hasan, R. H.; Radwan, S. S.; Höpner, Thomas

doi:10.1038/359109a0

Cited by 135 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In the early 1990s we reported on the first naturally immobilized consortium of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms on the Arabian Gulf coasts (Sorkhoh et al 1992). The consortium consisted of cyanobacterial mats immobilizing large numbers of hydrocarbon degraders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shortly thereafter massive growth of bluegreen mats occurred on the top of coastal oil sediments (Sorkhoh et al 1992). The microbiological analysis of these mats revealed that they consisted of the filamentous cyanobacteria Phormedium and Microcoleus, which were immobilizing large numbers of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms (Al-Hasan et al 1994, 1998, Sorkhoh et al 1992.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potential application of coastal biofilm-coated gravel particles for treating oily waste

Radwan

Al-Hasan²

2001

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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This paper reports on hydrocarbon-degrading microbial consortia immobilized in biofilms on gravel particles in the intertidal zone of the Arabian Gulf coast. These microorganisms contribute to the self-cleaning of the coasts and, in addition, could potentially be used for cleaning oily industrial waste before its disposal in the open environment. Each gravel particle was found coated with about 100 mg biofilm of blue-green biomass. The predominant phototrophs were the cyanobacteria Dermocarpella and to a lesser degree Lyngbya sp. The most dominant hydrocarbondegrading bacterium in this consortium was Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; minor bacteria included Micrococcus and nocardioforms. The biofilm-coated gravel particles were used in 5 successive cycles of purification of oily sea water. This immobilized microflora was efficient during all cycles in hydrocarbon consumption. In contrast, bacteria adhering to biomass-uncoated gravel particles brought about hydrocarbon degradation in the first few cycles, but then gradually lost their cleaning potential, apparently due to their successive washing out from the particles during successive cycles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential application of coastal biofilm-coated gravel particles for treating oily waste

Radwan

Al-Hasan²

2001

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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“…Numerous studies on oil spill bioremediation in Kuwait after the Gulf war in 1991 reported on the different strategies for the clean up of pollution. Experimental evidence indicated a potential self-cleaning of oil-contaminated areas via the activities of indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms [33], which could be further improved by different management practices such as irrigation and fertilization with nitrogen or organic carbons [27].…”

Section: High Temperature Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of thermophilic bacteria in accelerated hydrocarbon bioremediation

Perfumo¹,

Banat²,

Marchant³

2006

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 88

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Successful bioremediation of hydrocarbon contamination in terrestrial as well as aquatic ecosystems is generally limited by the low bioavailability of hydrophobic pollutants. Considerably higher mass transfer rates and hydrocarbon solubilities can be obtained at higher temperatures, but so far approaches to bioremediation at increased temperature have hardly been investigated. The biotechnological significance and the benefits of the use of thermophilic bacteria in enhancing hydrocarbon removal under different environmental conditions were investigated. Expression of the alkane mono-oxygenase alkB gene responsible for the initial step in the degradation of alkanes in soil geobacilli was found to be induced by the presence of such a substrate at high temperature, and this explains the increased degradation rates achieved in hexadecane-contaminated microcosms incubated at 60°C compared to mesophilic conditions. Additional benefits of increasing hydrocarbon degradation also occur when thermophilic bacteria capable of producing biosurfactants which act as solubilising agents in such systems are introduced. We conclude that thermally accelerated bioremediation may be an effective technology for hydrocarbon contaminated soil bioremediation.

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“…Cyanobacteria are common aquatic phototrophic microorganisms that are probably one of the most abundant components of biomass on our planet (Sorkokh et al, 1992). They thrive under a variety of extreme conditions where the abundance and activities of grazing organisms is limited and can form mats (blooms) (Kalavithi et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%