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Biodegradation of petroleum sludge and petroleum polluted soil by a bacterial consortium: a laboratory study

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Abstract

This article presents a study of the efficiency and degradation pattern of samples of petroleum sludge and polluted sandy soil from an oil refinery. A bacterial consortium, consisting of strains from the genera Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, Bacillus and Micromonospora, was isolated from a petroleum sludge sample and characterized. The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients and a chemical surfactant to both the samples and bioaugmentation to the soil sample were applied under laboratory conditions. The extent of biodegradation was monitored by the gravimetric method and analysis of the residual oil by gas chromatography. Over a 12-week experiment, the achieved degree of TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbon) degradation amounted to 82–88% in the petroleum sludge and 86–91% in the polluted soil. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was utilized to determine the biodegradability and degradation rates of n-alkanes, isoprenoids, steranes, diasteranes and terpanes. Complete degradation of the n-alkanes and isoprenoids fractions occurred in both the samples. In addition, the intensities of the peaks corresponding to tricyclic terpenes and homohopanes were decreased, while significant changes were also observed in the distribution of diasteranes and steranes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (III 43004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Njegoseva 12, P.O. Box 473, Belgrade, Serbia

    G. D. Gojgic-Cvijovic, J. S. Milic, T. M. Solevic, V. P. Beskoski & M. V. Ilic

  2. Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, P.O. Box 23, Belgrade, Serbia

    L. S. Djokic & T. M. Narancic

  3. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia

    M. M. Vrvic

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  1. G. D. Gojgic-Cvijovic
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  2. J. S. Milic
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  4. V. P. Beskoski
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  5. M. V. Ilic
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Correspondence to G. D. Gojgic-Cvijovic.

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Gojgic-Cvijovic, G.D., Milic, J.S., Solevic, T.M. et al. Biodegradation of petroleum sludge and petroleum polluted soil by a bacterial consortium: a laboratory study. Biodegradation 23, 1–14 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9481-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9481-1

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