Biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and EPA-16 PAHs in Crude Oil by Pseudomonas aeruginosa KUD2

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Alhikmah University, Adewole, Ilorin, Nigeria

2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria

10.22059/poll.2024.378584.2438

Abstract

The complex mixture of hydrocarbons known as Speciated EPA-16 Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are frequently found in crude oil and are known to be extremely hazardous, mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and immunotoxicogenic to different life forms, is included in the category of Extractable Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (ETPHs), which also includes aliphatic compounds. Considering the environmental and public health hazards linked to ETPHs and PAHs, there is a compelling need to explore indigenous bacteria with the capability to efficiently degrade these contaminants. The present study investigated the biodegradation potential of bacterial isolates from oil-polluted soil, focusing on Extractable Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (ETPHs) - Aliphatic and Speciated EPA-16 Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crude oil samples. In this study, four predominant bacterial isolates, designated as KUD1, KUD2, KUD3, and KUD4, were isolated from oil-contaminated soil obtained from Okrika in Rivers State, Nigeria. These isolates exhibited positive outcomes in both the drop collapse and oil displacement tests, affirming their biosurfactant-producing, surface tension-reducing, and oil-displacing capabilities. Among them, KUD2 exhibited the highest emulsification index, highlighting its proficiency in forming stable oil-in-water emulsions. Consequently, KUD2, owing to its remarkable growth on agar plates containing 10% crude oil, was chosen for further investigation. The highly efficient isolate, KUD2 identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa using 16S rDNA sequencing. The isolate exhibited enzymatic capabilities in the degradation of hydrocarbons, with catechol-1,2-dioxygenase enzymes detected with varying activity levels over time. Conversely, catechol-2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) remained consistently inactive throughout the experiment, suggesting alternative metabolic pathways or a lack of involvement in the studied biodegradation process. During the incubation period, the pH fluctuations correlated with the highest enzyme production, suggesting metabolic adaptations. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa KUD2 demonstrated significant increases in Alkane hydroxylase and Alcohol dehydrogenase secretion, reaching peak production after ten days of incubation signifying their active catalytic roles within the pathways associated with the investigated biodegradation process. Mass chromatograms revealed the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons in control crude oil samples, while KUD2 efficiently degraded ETPHs, reducing their concentration. Likewise, KUD2 demonstrated effective degradation of Speciated EPA-16 PAHs. The concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons in crude oil were significantly reduced after degradation, with some compounds being entirely degraded. Overall, this study underscores the potential of P. aeruginosa KUD2 for environmental bioremediation, as it efficiently degrades hydrocarbons and highlights the enzyme dynamics and pH influences in the biodegradation process.

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References

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Pollution
Volume 11, Issue 2
February 2025
Pages 312-328

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