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Microbial biodegradation

About: Microbial biodegradation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1647 publications have been published within this topic receiving 75473 citations.


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of bioaugmentation and biostimulation experiments clearly demonstrated that - in certain cases - the indigenous microbial community could be exploited for bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils.
Abstract: Petroleum hydrocarbons and derivatives are widespread contaminants in both aquifers and soil, their elimination is in the primary focus of environmental studies. Microorganisms are key components in biological removal of pollutants. Strains capable to utilize hydrocarbons usually appear at the contaminated sites, but their metabolic activities are often restricted by the lack of nutrients and/or they can only utilize one or two components of a mixture. We isolated a novel Rhodococcus sp. MK1 strain capable to degrade the components of diesel oil simultaneously. The draft genome of the strain was determined and besides the chromosome, the presence of one plasmid could be revealed. Numerous routes for oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic compounds were identified. The strain was tested in ex situ applications aiming to compare alternative solutions for microbial degradation of hydrocarbons. The results of bioaugmentation and biostimulation experiments clearly demonstrated that – in certain cases – the indige...

19 citations

01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of physical and chemical characteristics of the soil system, such as moisture content, organic matter and clay type, nutrients, temperature, salinity and pH on the sorption, desorption, degradation and biodegradation of pesticides is reviewed.
Abstract: Pesticides Biodegradation Degradation Once a pesticide is introduced into the environment, whether through an application a disposal or a spill, it is influenced by many processes. These processes determine a pesticide’s persistence and movement. Today’s concern is movement of pesticides to groundwater. An understanding of the fate processes can help every pesticide applicator ensure that applications are not only effective but also environmentally safe. Microbial degradation is the breakdown of pesticides by fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms that use pesticides as a food source. Most microbial degradation of pesticides occurs in the soil. Soil conditions such as moisture, temperature, aeration, pH and the amount of organic matter affect the rate of microbial degradation because of their direct influence on microbial growth and activity. The frequency of pesticide application also is a factor that can influence microbial degradation. Rapid microbial degradation is more likely when the same pesticide is used repeatedly in a field. This paper reviews what is known of the influence of the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil system, such as moisture content, organic matter and clay type, nutrients, temperature, salinity and pH on the sorption, desorption, degradation and biodegradation of pesticides. An understanding of the fate of pesticides is essential for rational decision-taking regarding their authorization.

18 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the role of microbial communities in the formation of organic acids, including isosaccharinic acid (ISA), in an intermediate-level waste repository and found that microbial activity was associated with the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and subsequent production of acetate.
Abstract: Under the alkaline conditions expected in an intermediate-level waste repository, cellulosic material will undergo chemical hydrolysis. This will produce hydrolysis products, some of which can form soluble complexes with some radionuclides. Analyses of samples containing autoclaved tissue and cotton wool incubated in a saturated solution of Ca(OH) 2 (pH > 12) confirmed previous reports that isosaccharinic acid (ISA) is produced from these cellulose polymers at high pH. However, when inoculated with a sediment sample from a hyperalkaline site contaminated with lime-kiln waste, microbial activity was implicated in the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and the subsequent production of acetate. This in turn led to acidification of the microcosms and a marked decrease in ISA production from the abiotic alkali hydrolysis of cellulose. DNA analyses of microbial communities present in the microcosms further support the hypothesis that bacterial activities can have a controlling influence on the formation of organic acids, including ISA, via an interplay between direct and indirect mechanisms. These and previous results imply that microorganisms could have a role in attenuating the mobility of some radionuclides in and around a geological disposal facility, via either the direct biodegradation of ISA or by catalysing cellulose fermentation and therefore preventing the formation of ISA.

18 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, it is shown that surface grafting of nano-CaSO4 with surfactin leads to optimal degradation of polystyrene nanocomposites, which is supported by the degraded surface of the films observed under filed emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).

18 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2018
TL;DR: A large number of microbial groups from the sediment, water, and soil that have been polluted by crude petroleum oil have been discovered in this article, and these microorganisms were able to transform hydrocarbons to energy and biomass as well as biological waste byproducts.
Abstract: Biodegradation of hydrocarbons is a cost-effective technique that is based on highly dispersed microbes in soil and water capable of biodegrading hydrocarbons. Degradation is an effective method for remediation of petro-hydrocarbons and causes changes in nature and concentration of petro-compounds. Biodegradation is classified as the most important tool for eliminating the toxicity and for removing the hydrocarbons in the different environments such as soil, water, and soil sediment that are polluted by hydrocarbons. The microorganisms employed in degradation process must be aboriginal in polluted sites. Investigators have recently discovered a large number of microbial groups from the sediment, water, and soil that have been polluted by crude petroleum oil. These microorganisms were able to transform hydrocarbons to energy and biomass as well as biological waste by-products. A variety of microorganisms have such capability of cleaning up and remediating locations that polluted by hydrocarbons. The microorganisms that biodegrade hydrocarbons are widely dispersed within surface water, sediments, and soil habitats. The importance of these microorganisms in biodegrading hydrocarbons and their other natural organic residues in aquatic ecosystems, soil, and sediment has long been recognized. Transformation of organic contaminants by these microbes naturally occurs because these organisms are able to use organic contaminants for their energy and carbon requirement as well as for their development and propagation. The capability of particular microbes to biodegrade the petro-hydrocarbons appears to be an acclimatization and is managed by several ecological factors. Primarily, the presence of hydrocarbons may also affect the microorganism community owing to its different chemical nature.

18 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
20241
202366
2022153
202172
202068
201962