Using microorganisms to aid in hydrocarbon degradation

Conference · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science; (United States)

OSTI ID:6248346

Black, W; Zamora, J ^[1]

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1. Middle Tennessee State Univ., Murfreesboro (United States)

Aliphatic hydrocarbons are threatening the potable water supply and the aquatic ecosystem. Given the right microbial inhabitant(s), a large portion of these aliphatic hydrocarbons could be biodegraded before reaching the water supply. The authors' purpose is to isolate possible oil-degrading organisms. Soil samples were taken from hydrocarbon-laden soils at petroleum terminals, a petroleum refinery waste-treatment facility, a sewage-treatment plant grease collector, a site of previous bioremediation, and various other places. Some isolates known to be good degraders were obtained from culture collection services. These samples were plated on a 10w-30 multigrade motor oil solid medium to screen for aliphatic hydrocarbon degraders. The degrading organisms were isolated, identified, and tested (CO[sub 2] evolution, BOD, and COD) to determine the most efficient degrader(s). Thirty-seven organisms were tested, and the most efficient degraders were Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter agglomerans.

• OSTI ID: 6248346
• Report Number(s): CONF-9204258-; CODEN: JTASAG
• Journal Information: Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science; (United States), Vol. 68:2; Conference: Executive committee meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Nashville, TN (United States), 24 Apr 1992; ISSN 0040-313X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
BACTERIA
DETECTION
HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PETROLEUM
ESCHERICHIA COLI
SERRATIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects