Microbial Bioremediation of Fuel Oil Hydrocarbons in Marine Environment

Abstract

Pollution in marine environment due to heavier petroleum products such as high-speed
diesel is known to take from days to months for complete natural remediation owing to its low
volatility. For the survival of marine flora and fauna, it is important to control pollution caused
by such recalcitrant and xenobiotic substances. Several petroleum hydrocarbons found in nature
are toxic and recalcitrant. Therefore, pollution due to high-speed diesel is a cause of concern.
The natural dispersion of high-speed diesel, a slow process, is attributed to an overall combined
effect of physico-chemical and biological processes which take months for complete dispersion.
History of marine oil spill bioremediation indicates limited laboratory studies. But experiences
from various oil spill management and field trials indicate important role of bioremediation, where,
biodegradation of hydrocarbons through microbial mediators plays a major role in pollutant oil
dispersion. These microbial mediators such as bioemulsifiers and fimbrae, help in emulsification,
dispersion, allowing attachment of bacteria to oil layers, followed by substrate-specific enzymatic
biodegradation in water.