R. Bartha

Bio: R. Bartha is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodegradation & Seawater. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 153 citations.

Biodegradation of petroleum in seawater at low temperatures.

Abstract: To evaluate the significance of biodegradation in the removal of polluting oil from cold oceans, freshly collected seawater samples were treated with petroleum and were incubated at controlled temp...

Hydrocarbon Biodegradation and Oil Spill Bioremediation

Abstract: Much of the early work on the microbial utilization of petroleum hydrocarbons, conducted in the 1950s and 1960s, was done with the goal of using hydrocarbons as substrates for producing microbial biomass (Shennan, 1984; Champagnat, 1964; Champagnat and Llewelyn, 1962; Cooney et al., 1980; Ballerini, 1978). Petroleum was viewed as an inexpensive carbon source and single cell protein (microbial biomass) was considered as a possible solution to the perceived impending world food shortage for the predicted global population explosion. Applied studies focused on optimizing microbial growth on low- to middle-molecular-weight hydrocarbons. These studies developed fermentor designs for large-scale single cell protein production with agitation and aeration systems that permitted high rates of microbial growth on soluble and highly emulsified hydrocarbon substrates. High-speed impellers (>800 rpm) were used to mix the hydrocarbon substrates and high rates of forced aeration with baffles within the fermentors were used to supply the molecular oxygen necessary for the microbial utilization of hydrocarbons (Hatch, 1975; Prokop and Sobotka, 1975). Optimized microbial growth in these fermentors consumes as much as 100,000 g hydrocarbon/m3 per day (Kanazawa, 1975).

Microbial Degradation of Petroleum in the Marine Environment.

Abstract: : The biodegradation of naphthalene, creosote, and naphthalene-enriched creosote applied to wood pilings used at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico was studied. It was found that naphthalene-degrading bacteria rapidly colonized new wood pilings within hours after installation but that the rate of attachment and subsequent colonization was significantly slower for the naphthalene- enriched creosote-treated wood. The bacteria attaching to new wood were predominantly stalked bacteria whereas the microbial flora of old wood reflected that of the surrounding water and sediment. The gut of Limnoria tripunctata reared in the laboratory was found to be free of bacteria but the external surfaces of the borer were heavily colonized by bacteria. (Author)

The Microbiology of Aquatic Oil Spills

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the microbiology of aquatic oil spills. Immediately upon spilling, oil begins to undergo a series of physical and chemical changes. The processes causing these changes include spreading, emulsification, dissolution, evaporation, sedimentation, and adsorption. Collectively, the oil is weathered by these processes. The weathering of oil depends on the amount and type of oil spilled, and on environmental conditions. Petroleum hydrocarbons have only a very limited solubility in water. Therefore, most oil spillages initially form a surface slick. The surface slick can be moved by wind, wave, and current action. A surface oil slick immediately begins to spread, initially owing to gravitational forces, resulting in a thinner layer of oil covering a larger area. The viscosity of the spilled oil will, to some extent, influence the rate of spreading and, as viscosity is temperature dependent, water temperature will also influence the area covered by a surface slick. The chapter illustrates the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on microorganisms, microbial emulsification and degradation of petroleum, and the microorganisms and oil pollution abatement.