title: Biodegradation of oil tank bottom sludge using microbial consortia.
abstract: We present a rationale for the selection of a microbial consortia specifically adapted to degrade toxic components of oil refinery tank bottom sludge (OTBS). Sources such as polluted soils, petrochemical waste, sludge from refinery-wastewater plants, and others were used to obtain a collection of eight microorganisms, which were individually tested and characterized to analyze their degradative capabilities on different hydrocarbon families. After initial experiments using mixtures of these strains, we developed a consortium consisting of four microorganisms (three bacteria and one yeast) selected in the basis of their cometabolic effects, emulsification properties, colonization of oil components, and degradative capabilities. Although the specific contribution each of the former parameters makes is not clearly understood, the activity of the four-member consortium had a strong impact not only on linear alkane degradation (100%), but also on the degradation of cycloalkanes (85%), branched alkanes (44%), and aromatic and sulphur-aromatic compounds (31-55%). The effectiveness of this consortium was significantly superior to that obtained by individual strains, commercial inocula or an undefined mixture of culturable and non-culturable microorganisms obtained from OTBS-polluted soil. However, results were similar when another consortium of four microorganisms, previously isolated in the same OTBS-polluted soil, was assayed.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. Exp. Prospección de Minas e Instituto de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Gonzalo Gutiérrez, S/N-33600 Mieres, Asturias, Spain. jgallego@uniovi.es
authors.forename: José Luis R
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Llamas
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belloch
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Peláez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001711:Biotransformation; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D009821:Oils; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants