Effect of Four Dispersants on Biodegradation and Growth of Bacteria on Crude Oil

Rapid microbial respiration of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in offshore surface waters of the Gulf of Mexico

“…Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) contains multiple ester bonds and is a chemical component of the dispersants used in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It has been shown that dispersants can be utilized as a sole carbon source by marine bacterial communities (Mulkins-Phillips and Stewart 1974). Additionally, a predecessor to modern dispersants, Corexit 8666, was shown to support enhanced growth of marine bacteria compared to un-amended controls (Mulkins-Phillips and Stewart 1974).…”

“…It has been shown that dispersants can be utilized as a sole carbon source by marine bacterial communities (Mulkins-Phillips and Stewart 1974). Additionally, a predecessor to modern dispersants, Corexit 8666, was shown to support enhanced growth of marine bacteria compared to un-amended controls (Mulkins-Phillips and Stewart 1974). Therefore, it is possible that the enhanced respiration that was not accounted for by hydrocarbon degradation could have been partially supported by oxidation of dispersants.…”

Effect of Hydrocarbons and Decontaminating Substances on Bacterial Flora of Coastal Sediments

“…It can therefore be presumed that the use of these substances in massive doses can slow down the natural purification processes effected by the microbes in the sea. According to some authors such microbial action can also be accentuated by a preferential use of dispersants as a source of carbon (vs. oil) by some bacterial strains (MULKINS-PHILLIPS & STEWART, 1974;BHOSLE & MAVINKURVE, 1984). However, in our study the increase of dispersant concentration resulted in decreasing colony numbers, so that the isolated bacteria did not live at the expense of dispersant.…”

“…capacity for degrading hydrocarbons (MULKINS-PHILLIPS & STEWART, 1974;FOGHT & WESTLAKE, 1982;BHOSLE & MAVINKURVE, 1984).…”

Effects of amendments on biodegradation of crude petroleum by sediment bacteria from Bonny River Estuary

“…Several approaches at solving the problem of oil pollution have been described (Garret, 1969; Meijs et al ., 1969; Wang et al ., 1975; Olivieri et al ., 1976), but each has its limitations. Numerous investigators have studied the possibility of using microorganisms to increase the natural biodegradation of petroleum (Le‐Petit & Barthelemy, 1968; Byrom & Beastall, 1971; Atlas & Bartha, 1972; Mulkins‐Philips & Stewart, 1972; Soli & Bens, 1972; Schwarz et al ., 1974), but it is too slow to have any practical importance for oil clean‐up. Inoculation of oil‐polluted areas with oil‐decomposing microorganisms seems to be ineffective because of growth‐limiting nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in seawater (Le‐Petit & Barthelemy, 1968; Zobell, 1969).…”