Microbial surfactant activities from a petrochemical landfarm in a humid tropical region of Brazil.
The goal of this study was to assess the presence and surfactant potential of naturally occurring microbes from a tropical soil with petrochemical contamination. Microorganisms in a soil sample from a Brazilian landfarm were isolated and grown on petroleum as the sole carbon source. Of 60 isolates screened for petroleum-based growth, 7 demonstrated surfactant activities by the drop-collapse methodology over various types of oils. From their growth profiles in liquid culture during 132 h, all had their first detection of surfactant activity after 96 h. Little is currently known about biosurfactant-producing microorganisms in tropical environments contaminated by hydrophobic compounds, and the search for them is essential for bioremediation and for oil recovery enhanced by microbes. Our results indicate that different petroleum-grown microorganisms showing surfactant activity can be recovered from landfarm soil in a tropical environment.
Maciel
Bianca Mendes
BM
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, UESC - Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. BR 415, Km 16, Ilhéus-BA, 45650-000, Brazil.
Dias
João Carlos Teixeira
JC
Dos Santos
Ana Cácia Freire
AC
Filho
Ronaldo Costa Argôlo
RC
Fontana
Renato
R
Loguercio
Leandro Lopes
LL
Rezende
Rachel Passos
RP
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001938:Brazil; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
D010578:Petroleum; D013501:Surface-Active Agents