Biosurfactants in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils

Abstract

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons is favored by biosurfactants. This research aimed to determine the performance of surfactants produced by Pseudomonas spp. degrading petroleum hydrocarbons. samples of contaminated soil and Pseudomonas spp were collected. degradative were considered when they used oil as a source of carbon and energy. Producing bacteria surfactants were selected by testing dispersion drop in the salinity minimum Davis medium with 1% glycerol as carbon source and with the three bacteria reached the largest diameter in the halo emulsion performance was determined. On the floor with an HTP of 22 900 mg g-1 was obtained 78 isolates of Pseudomonas spp., Including 84.62% used the oil as a source of carbon and energy in 24-96 hours. The 92.42% of these bacteria produced biosurfactant evidenced by halos of light crude oil emulsion, with diameters of 10-30 mm. The concentration of surfactants produced by Pseudomonas spp. was 1.0-1.5 gL-1, with 35% yield (Pseudomonas sp. 2HI), 31% (Pseudomonas sp. 8JU) and 19% (Pseudomonas sp. 4CF). surfactant production by Pseudomonas spp demonstrated. degradative oil, and its potential for remediation of contaminated soils.