title: Assessing Bacillus subtilis biosurfactant effects on the biodegradation of petroleum products.
abstract: Microbial pollutant removal capabilities can be determined and exploited to accomplish bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted environments. Thus, increasing knowledge on environmental behavior of different petroleum products can lead to better bioremediation strategies. Biodegradation can be enhanced by adding biosurfactants to hydrocarbon-degrading microorganism consortia. This work aimed to improve petroleum products biodegradation by using a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis. The produced biosurfactant was added to biodegradation assays containing crude oil, diesel, and kerosene. Biodegradation was monitored by a respirometric technique capable of evaluating CO₂ production in an aerobic simulated wastewater environment. The biosurfactant yielded optimal surface tension reduction (30.9 mN m(-1)) and emulsification results (46.90% with kerosene). Biodegradation successfully occurred and different profiles were observed for each substance. Precise mathematical modeling of biosurfactant effects on petroleum degradation profile was designed, hence allowing long-term kinetics prediction. Assays containing biosurfactant yielded a higher overall CO₂ output. Higher emulsification and an enhanced CO2 production dataset on assays containing biosurfactants was observed, especially in crude oil and kerosene.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Microbiologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24 A, 1515-Bela Vista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Nallin
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Montagnolli
authors.forename: Paulo Renato Matos
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Ederio Dino
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bidoia
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D013501:Surface-Active Agents