EFFECTS OF NITROGEN-SOURCE ON CRUDE-OIL BIODEGRADATION

Citation
Ba. Wrenn et al., EFFECTS OF NITROGEN-SOURCE ON CRUDE-OIL BIODEGRADATION, Journal of industrial microbiology, 13(5), 1994, pp. 279-286
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Biothechnology & Applied Migrobiology
ISSN journal
01694146
Volume
13
Issue
5
Year of publication
1994
Pages
279 - 286
Database
ISI
SICI code
0169-4146(1994)13:5<279:EONOCB>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
The effects of NH4Cl and KNO3 on biodegradation of light Arabian crude oil by an oil-degrading enrichment culture were studied in respiromet ers. In poorly buffered sea salts medium, the pH decreased dramaticall y in cultures that contained NH4Cl, but not in those supplied with KNO 3. The ammonia-associated pH decline was severe enough to completely s top oil biodegradation as measured by oxygen uptake. Regular adjustmen t of the culture pH allowed oil biodegradation to proceed normally. A small amount of nitrate accumulated in all cultures that contained amm onia, but nitrification accounted for less than 5% of the acid that wa s observed. The nitrification inhibitor, nitrapyrin, had no effect on the production of nitrate or acid in ammonia-containing cultures. When the culture pH was controlled, either by regular adjustment of the cu lture pH or by supplying adequate buffering capacity in the growth med ium, the rate and extent of oil biodegradation were similar in NH4Cl- and KNO3-containing cultures. The lag time was shorter in pH-controlle d cultures supplied with ammonia than in nitrate-containing cultures.