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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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TL;DR: The main challenge in PAH phytoremediation is to improve the performances of plants and rhizospheric microorganisms requiring thus more basic research and knowledge on natural detoxification mechanisms as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Plants are autotrophic organisms which are able to use sunlight and carbon dioxide as the sources of energy and carbon. Plants’ roots absorb a range of natural and anthropogenic toxic compounds for which they have developed some extraordinary detoxification mechanisms. From this point of view, plants can be seen as natural, solar-powered pump-and-treat systems for cleaning up contaminated soils, leading further to the concept of phytoremediation. The phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) refers to the use of plants and associated soil microorganisms in terms of reducing the concentrations or toxic effects of these contaminants in the environment. Although there is little evidence to prove that PAHs from soils are accumulated considerably in plants’ parts, there is a lot of evidence that in soils vegetated with grasses and legumes, a significant dissipation of PAHs occurs. Namely, the primary mechanism controlling this process is the rhizospheric microbial degradation, where soil microbial populations use organic compounds as carbon substrates for its growth. This is usually stimulated by roots exudates. The final result of this process is the breakdown and eventual total mineralization of the contaminants. The main challenge in PAH phytoremediation is to improve the performances of plants and rhizospheric microorganisms requiring thus more basic research and knowledge on natural detoxification mechanisms.
82 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the ability of a microbial consortium to degrade equivalent carbon number (EC) based hydrocarbon fractions in kerosene has attracted little attention; however, the biodegradation of petroleum products using total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) have been carried out; therefore, the microbial community was predominantly identified as Betaproteobacteria of the genera Achromobacter, Alcaligenes, and Cupriavidus.
82 citations
01 Jul 2003
TL;DR: Bioremediation refers to site restoration through the removal of organic contaminants by microorganisms, which is largely carried out by diverse bacterial populations, which are ubiquitously distributed in the environment.
Abstract: Uncontrolled and catastrophic releases of petroleum pose ecologicaland environmental repercussions as a lot of hydrocarbon components are toxic and persistent in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Several physico-chemical methods of decontaminating the environment have been established and employed. Biological degradation, a safe, effective and an economic alternative method, is a process of decay initiated by biological agents, specifically in this case by microorganisms. Bioremediation refers to site restoration through the removal of organic contaminants by microorganisms. Biodegradation of hydrocarbons is largely carried out by diverse bacterial populations, which are ubiquitously distributed in the environment. The most commonly reported genera of hydrocarbon-degraders include Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Nocardia, Vibrio and Achromobacter. The factors, that influence the rates of microbial degradation of hydrocarbons, include temperature, pH, salinity, oxygen, nutrients, and physical and chemical composition of petroleum. Due to the complexity of crude oil, biodegradation involves the interaction of many different microbial species. It could be attributed to the effects of synergistic interactions among members of the consortium.
81 citations
TL;DR: Dichlorophenol photolysis rates were 20-80% higher in estuarine water than in distilled water, indicating a photosensitized reaction, and winterphotolysis and microbial degradation rates were lower than the summer values.
Abstract: The rates of photolysis and microbial degradation of phenol, p-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol in estuarine water were determined. Photolysis was the primary transformation process for the polychlorinated phenols with photolysis rate constants in surface estuarine water ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 h/sup -1/ and half-lives ranging from 0.6-3 h. Dichlorophenol photolysis rates were 20-80% higher in estuarine water than in distilled water, indicating a photosensitized reaction. There was no microbial (dark) degradation of polychlorinated phenols during short incubation periods (up to 3 days). The photoproducts of polychlorinated phenols were rapidly degraded by microbes. Microbial degradation was the primary process for transformation of phenol and p-chlorophenol. In the summer the microbial and photolysis transformation rate constants for phenol were 0.03 (t/sub 1/2/ = 28 h) and 0.016 h/sup -1/ (t/sub 1/2/ = 43 h), respectively. Winter photolysis and microbial degradation rates were lower than the summer values. 36 references, 2 tables.
81 citations
TL;DR: The main advantage of the microorganisms isolated from Arctic environment is the ability to grow at low temperature and efficient biodegradation under this condition, which suggests that C. rosea can be used in natural and laboratory conditions for degradations of bioplastics.
Abstract: The increasing amount of plastic waste causes significant environmental pollution. In this study, screening of Arctic microorganisms which are able to degrade bioplastics was performed. In total, 313 microorganisms were isolated from 52 soil samples from the Arctic region (Spitsbergen). Among the isolated microorganisms, 121 (38.66%) showed biodegradation activity. The ability of clear zone formation on emulsified poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) was observed for 116 microorganisms (95.87%), on poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) for 73 microorganisms (60.33%), and on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) for 102 microorganisms (84.3%). Moreover, the growth of microorganisms on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) agar plates was observed for 56 microorganisms (46.28%). Based on the 16S rRNA sequence, 10 bacterial strains which showed the highest ability for biodegradation were identified as species belonging to Pseudomonas sp. and Rhodococcus sp. The isolated fungal strains were tested for polycaprolactone films and commercial corn and potato starch bags degradation under laboratory conditions. Strains 16G (based on the analysis of a partial 18S rRNA sequence, identified as Clonostachys rosea) and 16H (identified as Trichoderma sp.) showed the highest capability for biodegradation. A particularly high capability for biodegradation was observed for the strain Clonostachys rosea, which showed 100% degradation of starch films and 52.91% degradation of PCL films in a 30-day shake flask experiment. The main advantage of the microorganisms isolated from Arctic environment is the ability to grow at low temperature and efficient biodegradation under this condition. The data suggest that C. rosea can be used in natural and laboratory conditions for degradations of bioplastics.
81 citations