Diesel Degradation and Bioemulsifiers Production Using Bubble-Column with a Microbial Consortium Isolated from Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Diesel is composed of various toxic compounds that can have a negative influence on the environment including plants, microorganisms, and even groundwater being used for cultivation and human consumption. Diesel oil biodegradation kinetics was investigated using bubble-column reactor and microbial consortium isolated from a hydrocarbons spill site and were assessed by gas chromatography. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the importance of intrinsic microorganisms used to degrade diesel. 93.84% of the diesel got consumed in the bubble-column reactor after 15 days of culture. The consortium showed the ability to produce emulsifiers using diesel oil as its only carbon and nitrogen source (hydrocarbonclastic). This study showed that the hydrocarbonclastic consortium isolated from polluted soil has the metabolic tools for diesel degradation (as a single carbon and energy source), and the capacity to produce bioemulsifiers in a bubble column reactor. Microbial consortium and bioemulsifiers produced in this research have the potential to be used in the cleanup processes of polluted soil with hydrocarbons such as diesel.

Keywords

• bubble column reactor
• oil biodegradation
• bioemulsifiers
• microbial consortium