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

Petroleum-based products are the major sources of energy for industry and daily life. The world production of crude oil is more than three billion tons per year, and about the half of this is transported by sea. Oil spill accidents result in significant contamination of the ocean and shoreline environment. Annually, more than one million tons of petroleum are estimated to end up in the sea. In this study, a strain of Pseudomonas alkanolytica had been examined to degrade oil spill in surface water. Such strain which is isolated from petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil has the ability to utilize a variety of hydrocarbons substrates. Experiments were carried out in lab scale and the growth of microorganisms were investigated directly and indirectly. Results showed an extent of biodegradation more than 90% can be achieved within 10 days using this strain.