Bioremediation of oil polluted marine sediments: A bio-engineering treatment.
The fate of hydrocarbon pollutants and the development of oil-degrading indigenous marine bacteria in contaminated sediments are strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as temperature, low oxygen levels, and nutrient availability. In this work, the effects of different biodegradation processes (bioremediation) on oil-polluted anoxic sediments were analyzed. In particular, as a potential bioremediation strategy for polluted sediments, we applied a prototype of the "Modular Slurry System" (MSS), allowing containment of the sediments and their physical-chemical treatment (by air insufflations, temperature regulation, and the use of a slow-release fertilizer). Untreated polluted sediments served as the blank in a non-controlled experiment. During the experimental period (30 days), bacterial density and biochemical oxygen demand were measured and functional genes were identified by screening. Quantitative measurements of pollutants and an eco-toxicological analysis (mortality of Corophium orientale) were carried out at the beginning and end of the experiments. The results demonstrated the high biodegradative capability achieved with the proposed technology and its strong reduction of pollutant concentrations and thus toxicity.
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.
Simone
S
Cappello
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.|Ph.D. School in Applied Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
Rosario
R
Calogero
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.|Ph.D School in Biology and Cellular Biotechnology, University of Messina, Italy.
Santina
S
Santisi
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.
Maria
M
Genovese
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.
Renata
R
Denaro
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.
Lucrezia
L
Genovese
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.
Laura
L
Giuliano
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Catania, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Mancini
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC)-CNR of Messina, Italy.
Michail M
MM
Yakimov
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Corophium orientale (Crustacea, Amphipoda); bioremediation; biostimulation; chronically polluted sediments; oil-degrading bacteria