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. 1989 Jan;55(1):36–42. doi: 10.1128/aem.55.1.36-42.1989

Effect of Emulsan on Biodegradation of Crude Oil by Pure and Mixed Bacterial Cultures

Julia M Foght 1, David L Gutnick 1, Donald W S Westlake 1,*
PMCID: PMC184051  PMID: 16347832

Abstract

Crude oil was treated with purified emulsan, the heteropolysaccharide bioemulsifier produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1. A mixed bacterial population as well as nine different pure cultures isolated from various sources was tested for biodegradation of emulsan-treated and untreated crude oil. Biodegradation was measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. Recovery of 14CO2 from mineralized 14C-labeled substrates yielded quantitative data on degradation of specific compounds, and capillary gas chromatography of residual unlabeled oil yielded qualitative data on a broad spectrum of crude oil components. Biodegradation of linear alkanes and other saturated hydrocarbons, both by pure cultures and by the mixed population, was reduced some 50 to 90% after emulsan pretreatment. In addition, degradation of aromatic compounds by the mixed population was reduced some 90% in emulsan-treated oil. In sharp contrast, aromatic biodegradation by pure cultures was either unaffected or slightly stimulated by emulsification of the oil.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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