Study of oil biodegrading by expanded perlite Loaded by oil-eating bacteria

Abstract

Bio sorption and biodegrading capacity as well as sorption of oil onto expanded perlites modified with oil-eating bacteria were studied. This investigation leveraged perlite as an oil absorbent, subsequently laden with oil-degrading micro-organisms, aiming to study not only oil spill absorption but also the eradication of oil spill. Findings from experiments with three different adsorbents - one devoid of microbes, one featuring perlite loaded with microbes, and one containing expanded perlite laden with microbes-indicate that expanded perlite, due to its large surface area and low density, presents an optimal environment for microbial growth and proliferation. Upon microbial colonization, the amount of oil absorption and removal escalated by 58% and 80.45%, respectively, compared to pre-expansion. Furthermore, microbial activity mitigated some oil contamination and decreased the surface tension between water and oil via production of surface active substances, thereby facilitating further separation of residual oil in the water.