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Effect of Four Dispersants on Biodegradation and Growth of Bacteria on Crude Oil

1974; American Society for Microbiology; Volume: 28; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1128/am.28.4.547-552.1974

0003-6919

G. J. Mulkins-Phillips, James E. Stewart,

Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants

Four chemical dispersants, Corexit 8666, Gamlen Sea Clean, G. H. Woods Degreaser-Formula 11470, and Sugee 2 were examined singly and in individual combinations with Arabian Crude Oil (1:1 ratio) at 10 and 25 C for their effects on the growth of bacteria indigenous to local marine waters, the bacterial population composition, and biodegradation of crude oil; in addition, their emulsifying capacities, at approximately 24 C, were determined. None of the dispersants used alone were toxic even at relatively high concentrations (1.25%), although Gamlen Sea Clean and G. H. Woods Degreaser-Formula 11470 did cause an increase in the lag phase which was more pronounced at 10 than at 25 C; addition of the crude oil reduced the lag phase increase. All of the dispersants used alone supported good growth of microorganisms, but qualitative population shifts were caused by the dispersant-oil combinations. The degrees of degradation of the n -alkane fraction of the crude oil varied depending upon the dispersant used. Under these test conditions, only Sugee 2, which had the poorest emulsifying capacity, promoted n -alkane degradation compared with the values obtained by using the crude oil alone.