Biodegradation of Petrol Using the Fungus Penicillium sp.

Abstract

Background: Oil spills are considered as one of the critical problems which cause a decline in environmental health. Currently the biological solutions have become more familiar to remove hazardous substances from the environment. Methods: Soil samples were collected from petrol bunks and automobile workshops at Madurai and used for the isolation of fungi. The isolated fungus was identified as Penicillium sp. using lacto phenol cotton blue staining method and cultural characteristics. The efficiency of the fungal strain on the degradation of different concentrations of petrol was studied using 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% of petrol in minimal medium. Results: The parameters, pH, optical density and CO released were determined. HPLC analysis exhibited a difference in the pattern of peaks between control and the 2 treated sample confirming petrol degradation. Conclusion: The ability of Penicillium sp. to tolerate oil pollutants and grow on them, suggest that it can be employed as bioremediation agent and can be used in restoring the ecosystem when contaminated by oil.

Microbiological Diversity and Biotechnological Potential of the Soil Ecosystem of a High-Mountainous Landfill

“…Our studies have revealed that oil products have a toxic effect on the soil microbiota, inhibiting its biological diversity and in the dominance of the most resistant species of fungi. The same results were obtained by other researchers [47][48][49][50][51][52]. Many researchers confirmed that the diversity of the fungal community is dominant among other inhabitants in the oil contamination of soils.…”

Bioremediation of Spent Engine Oil Contaminated Soil by Using Fungus, <i>Penicillium sp.</i>

“…relative to the control (Table 2) when inoculated on spent and unspent engine oil and incubated for seven days. This finding is in conformity with that of Vanishree et al [32] who reported on the biodegradation of petrol using Penicillium sp. The increase rates of mycelia growth of Penicillium sp.…”

Aerobic Degradation of Petroleum Components by Microbial Consortia

“…The highest percentage loss of petroleum hydrocarbon concentration by the mixed cultures of fungi were 90% with A. niger and A. fumigatus, but the lowest loss of petroleum hydrocarbon calculated in mixed four fungal strains (A. niger, A. fumigatus, P. funiculosum and F. solani) to 70%. Vanishree et al [147] used fungus Penicillium sp. for biodegradation of petrol.…”