Author/Authors :
Bagherzadeh-Namazi، A نويسنده Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14155-143, Tehran, Iran, , , Shojaosadati، s.a نويسنده Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14155-143, Tehran, Iran, , , Hashemi-Najafabadi، s نويسنده Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14155-143, Tehran, Iran, ,
Abstract :
It is known that native oil-degrading microorganisms are ubiquitous. They can be
isolated from contaminated soils. In this study, biodegradation experiments were carried out to
evaluate the efficiency of pollutant removal by adding the selected microorganisms. Five mixed
cultures and 3 single bacteria strains, Pseudomonas sp., Arthrobacter sp. and Mycobacterium sp.
were isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soils by enrichment on either crude oil or individual
hydrocarbons, as the sole carbon sources. The strains were selected based on their ability to grow
in medium containing crude oil, used engine oil or both. Their ability to degrade hydrocarbon
contamination in the environment was investigated using soil samples contaminated with used
engine oil. The mixed starter culture #1 degraded 66 % of aliphatic compounds in the engine oil, after
60 days ofincubation. The mixed starter culture #5 removed 47 % of aromatic compounds during 60
days of incubation, which is the maximum efficiency among the starter cultures, in this study.
