Degradation of crude oil by indigenous microorganisms supplemented with nutrients

Article type: Research Article

Authors: XIA, Wen-xiang^; | ZHENG, Xi-lai | LI, Jin-cheng | SONG, Zhi-wen | ZHOU, Li | SUN, Hao-fen

Affiliations: Department of Environmental Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China | Department of Environmental Engineering, Qingdao Technological University, Qingdao 266033, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: xiawx2001@yahoo.com.cn

Abstract: Different kinds of mineral nutrients (NO_3-N, NH_4-N and PO_4-P) were applied in the simulated oil-polluted seawater for enhancing oil biodegradation in the N/P ratio 10:1 and 20: 1. Although indigenous microorganisms have the ability to degrade oil, adding nutrients accelerated biodegradation rates significantly. For the group amended with NO_3-N and PO_4-P in the ratio 10:1, the reaction rate coefficient was 4 times higher than the natural biodegradation. Chemical and microbiological analysis showed that the optimal N/P ratio in the system is 10:1, and microorganisms tend to utilize nitrate rather than ammonium as N source.

Keywords: oil spill, biodegradation kinetics, N/P ratio, microbial population

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 659-661, 2005