Optimal conditions for bioremediation of oily seawater.
To determine the influence of nutrients on the rate of biodegradation, a five-level, three-factor central composite design (CCD) was employed for bioremediation of seawater artificially contaminated with crude oil. Removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) was the dependent variable. Samples were extracted and analyzed according to US-EPA protocols. A significant (R(2)=0.9645, P<0.0001) quadratic polynomial mathematical model was generated. Removal from samples not subjected to optimization and removal by natural attenuation were 53.3% and 22.6%, respectively. Numerical optimization was carried out based on desirability functions for maximum TPH removal. For an initial crude oil concentration of 1g/L supplemented with 190.21 mg/L nitrogen and 12.71 mg/L phosphorus, the Design-Expert software predicted 60.9% hydrocarbon removal; 58.6% removal was observed in a 28-day experiment.
Zahed
Mohammad Ali
MA
School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia.
Aziz
Hamidi Abdul
HA
Isa
Mohamed Hasnain
MH
Mohajeri
Leila
L
Mohajeri
Soraya
S
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
D010578:Petroleum; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen