title: Degradation of diesel oil by immobilized Candida tropicalis and biofilm formed on gravels.
abstract: The performance of diesel oil degradation by Candida tropicalis immobilized on various conventional matrices (sodium alginate, carboxyl methyl cellulose, chitosan) and biowaste materials (wheat bran, sawdust, peanut hull powder) was investigated using the method of entrapment and physical adsorption. The yeast species immobilized in wheat bran showed enhanced efficiency in degrading diesel oil (98%) compared to free cells culture (80%) over a period of 7 days. Copious amount of exopolysaccharides were also produced in the presence of diesel oil. The biofilm forming ability of C. tropicalis on PVC strips was evaluated using XTT (2,3-bis[2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) reduction assay and monitored by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Yeast biofilm formed on gravels showed 97% degradation of diesel oil over a period of 10 days. The potential use of the biofilms for preparing trickling filters (gravel particles), for attenuating hydrocarbons in oily liquid wastes before their disposal in the open environment is suggested and discussed. This is the first successful attempt for 'artificially' establishing hydrocarbon degrading yeast biofilm on solid substrates.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biotechnology Division, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Preethy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Nilanjana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005742:Gasoline; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007219:Industrial Oils; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000032:analysis; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005742:Gasoline; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D014866:Waste Products; C059087:2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium