DEGRADATION OF MAZUT BY SELECTED MICROBIAL STRAINS IN MODEL SYSTEMS

Samples of soil contaminated with mazut (residual oil) were a source f or isolation of mazut-degrading microorganisms. Most of the strains is olated were characterized taxonomically as members of the Pseudomonas genus. Qualitative and quantitative changes (CHN-composition and weigh t) in mazut in the course of its biotransformation in liquid media and soil were analysed. More detailed information was obtained by the mat hematical analysis of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra for th e determination of mazut fractions prior to and after bacterial degrad ation in liquid media. Some strains could degrade about 20% of mazut i n liquid media after a 10 day incubation and about 30% in soil after a 20 day incubation. Data on the activity of degraders with respect to mazut composition allow a set of bacterial associations degrading oil and mazut to be established. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd