title: Enhanced biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soil by microbial biosurfactant, sophorolipid.
abstract: Effectiveness of a microbial biosurfactant, sophorolipid, was evaluated in washing and biodegradation of model hydrocarbons and crude oil in soil. Thirty percent of 2-methylnaphthalene was effectively washed and solubilized with 10 g/L of sophorolipid with similar or higher efficiency than that of commercial surfactants. Addition of sophorolipid in soil increased biodegradation of model compounds: 2-methylnaphthalene (95% degradation in 2 days), hexadecane (97%, 6 days), and pristane (85%, 6 days). Also, effective biodegradation method of crude oil in soil was observed by the addition of sophorolipid, resulting in 80% biodegradation of saturates and 72% aromatics in 8 weeks. These results showed the potentials of the microbial biosurfactant, sophorolipid, as an effective surfactant for soil washing and as an in situ biodegradation enhancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Whan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young-Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Eun-Ki
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D010578:Petroleum; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents