Survival of cryogel-immobilized Rhodococcus strains in crude oil-contaminated soil and their impact on biodegradation efficiency

• Published in: International biodeterioration & biodegradation Vol. 84; pp. 118 - 125
• Main Authors: Kuyukina, Maria S., Ivshina, Irena B., Kamenskikh, Tatiana N., Bulicheva, Maria V., Stukova, Galina I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2013
• Subjects: Agar; alcohols; Biodegradation; Cryogel; Granular materials; granules; Immobilization; immobilized cells; loam soils; Oil-contaminated soil; oils; petroleum; Plating; polluted soils; polymerase chain reaction; polyvinyl alcohol; Respirometry; Rhodococcus; Rhodococcus erythropolis; Rhodococcus ruber; Soil (material); soil ecology; Strain; Survival; viability; Oil-contaminated soil; Biodegradation; Immobilization; Rhodococcus; Respirometry; Cryogel
• ISSN: 0964-8305; 1879-0208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.05.035

In laboratory microcosms, we studied the survival and catabolic activity of cryogel-immobilized and free Rhodococcus strains introduced into loam soil freshly contaminated with crude oil, mimicking spill situation. Inoculated Rhodococcus erythropolis and Rhodococcus ruber were monitored in soil and poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel granules by selective agar plating and species-specific PCR. Introduced Rhodococcus cultures survived successively in oil-contaminated soil for 14 months. Moreover, immobilized cells demonstrated higher viability under soil desiccation conditions compared to free cells. Soil microcosms with immobilized Rhodococcus cells respired more actively than control (non-inoculated) and liquid culture-amended soils; that was in a good correlation with greater oil degradation rates in immobilized systems.
► We studied a survival of cryogel-immobilized Rhodococcus in crude oil-polluted soil. ► Immobilized bacteria showed high viability under long-term desiccation conditions. ► Rhodococcus-amended soil respired actively resulting in efficient oil biodegradation. ► Application of gel-immobilized bacteria has advantages over liquid cultures.