Evaluation of crude oil biodegradation using mixed fungal cultures

Abstract

The use of potent fungal mixed cultures is a promising technique for the biodegradation of crude oil. Four isolates of fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata (AA-1), Aspergillus flavus (AF-3), Aspergillus terreus (AT-7), and Trichoderma harzianum (TH-5), were isolated from date palm soil in Saudi Arabia. The mixed fungal of the four isolates have a powerful tool for biodegradation up to 73.6% of crude oil (1%, w/v) in 14 days. The fungal consortium no. 15 containing the four isolates (1:1:1:1) performed significantly better as a biodegradation agent than other consortium in a variety of environmental factors containing crude oil concentration, incubation temperature, initial pH, biodegradation time and the salinity of the medium. The fungal consortium showed better performance in the biodegradation of normal alkanes (n-alkanes) than that of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); the biodegradation efficiency of normal alkanes of the fungal consortium (67.1%) was clearly high than that of the PAHs (56.8%).

Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Drechsleraspicifera Isolated from Contaminated Soil in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…The biosurfactants produced by Trichoderma atroviride , Aspergillus nidulans , and Aspergillus sydowii isolated from contaminated soil samples showed an efficient degradation (66.9–83.5%) of crude oil after 30 days [ 39 ]. Another study from Saudi Arabia used a mixture of biosurfactants produced by Alternaria alternata , Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus terreus , and Trichoderma harzianum, which caused successful biodegradation (73.6%) of crude oil [ 40 ]. All of these studies, as well as our findings, suggest the robust oil-biodegradative ability of fungal biosurfactants, which might be explained by the production of degradative enzymes that can decrease the hydrocarbon pollution in contaminated spots.…”

Biodegradation of Selected Hydrocarbons by Fusarium Species Isolated from Contaminated Soil Samples in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…DCPIP technique was employed to assess the oil-degrading ability of fungal isolates [ 25 ]. Briefly, Erlenmeyer flasks with 100 mL of MSM mixed with 1% of either one of the tested hydrocarbons, 0.1% Tween 80, and 0.6 mg/mL of redox indicator (DCPIP) (Sigma-Aldrich Co.; St. Louis, MO, USA) were autoclaved for 30 min.…”

Bio-Treatment Technologies of Produced Water: A Review

“…Future research should focus on pure culture development and mixed culture biotreatment techniques that lead to the optimization of microbial strains to enhance desired properties using genetic and metabolic engineering tools and methods [105,106]. Also, immobilization of living cells on a micro surface has been increasingly studied recently to obtain a biocatalyst with high performance as an efficient approach for the treatment of oily wastewater [73,107,108].…”