Biological Treatment of Hydrocarbon Contaminants: Petroleum Hydrocarbon uptake by Pseudomonas alkanolytica

Petroleum-based products are the major sources of energyfor industry and daily life. The world production of crude oil is morethan three billion tons per year, and about the half of this istransported by sea. Oil spill accidents result in significantcontamination of the ocean and shoreline environment. Annually,more than one million tons of petroleum are estimated to end up in thesea.In this study, a strain of Pseudomonas alkanolytica had beenexamined to degrade oil spill in surface water. Such strain which isisolated from petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil has the abilityto utilize a variety of hydrocarbons substrates. Experiments werecarried out in lab scale and the growth of microorganisms wereinvestigated directly and indirectly. Results showed an extent ofbiodegradation more than 90% can be achieved within 10 days usingthis strain.