Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the environment is the natural way of cleaning the nature. The potential biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants by microorganisms is dependent on the environmental factors and the nutrients available. In this study culture conditions like temperature, pH, and nitrogen source were optimized by conventional one-factor at a time experimentation and the combination of other nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus,
magnesium, and sulfur) was optimized by using design of experiments (DOE) combined with grey relational analysis (GRA). Total petroleum hydrocarbons of oil sludge, light crude oil and heavy crude oil, degradation was studied for a period of thirty days using microbial strains isolated from the hydrocarbon contaminated sites. They have shown predominant results in the degradation of TPH’s under optimized culture conditions and prior addition of biosurfactants in the culture flask has enhanced the degradation process and microbial biomass yield.