Microbial uptake of diesel oil sorbed on soil and oil spill clean-up sorbents

• Published in: Journal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) Vol. 80; no. 5; pp. 587 - 593
• Main Authors: Biswas, S, Chaudhari, S.K, Mukherji, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-05-2005; Wiley
• Subjects: adsorbents; adsorption; Applied sciences; bioavailability; biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; bioremediation; Biotechnology; black cotton soil; clean-up; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; diesel fuel; diesel oil; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; microbial degradation; microorganisms; NAPL; peat; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Soil and sediments pollution; sorption; Biodegradation; Oil spill; clean-up; Bioavailability; NAPL; Soil pollution; diesel oil; Nonaqueous phase liquid; Chemical pollution; Sorption; Decontamination; microbial degradation; Bioremediation; Sorbent
• ISSN: 0268-2575; 1097-4660
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.1257

Sorbent effects in the microbial uptake of diesel oil were determined for black cotton soil (BCS) and two oil spill clean‐up sorbents, ie peat sorb and spill sorb. Biodegradation studies were conducted in mass transfer limited batch slurry microcosms using microorganisms capable of direct interfacial uptake of diesel oil. Under identical loading conditions, the amounts of diesel oil initially loaded on the various sorbents were 178, 288 and 649 mg g−1 for BCS, spill sorb and peat sorb, respectively. Total biodegradation of sorbed diesel was comparable for all the sorbents (45–52 mg), however, the biodegradation rates were significantly different. Peat sorb demonstrated a distinct initial lag phase, the biodegradation rate in spill sorb was initially slower, whereas biodegradation at a high rate commenced immediately for BCS. The maximum biodegradation rates observed for BCS, spill sorb and peat sorb microcosms were 7.9, 5, and 2.9 mg day−1, respectively. Thus, the maximum biodegradation rate increased as the diesel oil loading decreased. Our results indicate that spill clean‐up sorbents have greater bioavailability limitations compared with soils and this is linked with their significantly higher loading capacity and internal porosity. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry