New microcultures have been identified that can combat oil contamination in soil.

One of the most common and hazardous types of industrial waste is petroleum products. The hydrocarbons they contain alter soil properties, resulting in a toxic effect on the entire ecosystem: fertility decreases, and the soil's ability to retain moisture is diminished. Major causes of contamination include accidents, drilling operations, and oil extraction. These and various other factors contribute to the accumulation of harmful particles in the soil, leading to a prolonged negative impact on the environmental condition. Therefore, it is essential to implement measures to prevent or mitigate such situations. Researchers at Perm Polytechnic University have discovered new microorganisms that aid in combating the remnants of toxic substances.

2025-02-04 10:00:12https://naked-science.ru/article/column/neftyanymi-zagryazneniyam

The article was published in the journal "Chemistry. Urban Studies." The research was conducted as part of the strategic academic leadership program "Priority 2030."

Previously, a variety of traditional methods that cannot be deemed safe and environmentally friendly were used for large-scale hydrocarbon processing (such as the addition of reagents, combustion of petroleum products, and others). Now, biotechnological methods for the removal of oil and its particles are being employed to reduce environmental impact and preserve soil resources.

The discovery of microorganisms capable of breaking down compounds found in petroleum products has made it possible to effectively and safely address soil contamination issues. Once inside, they actively interact with the toxic substances and utilize them as a food source. Over time, the concentration of oil particles decreases, and under favorable conditions, complete soil remediation can be achieved. This highlights the urgent need to search for new strains with similar capabilities.

The efficiency of bacteria is best characterized by their growth rate. The faster the number of cells increases in the presence of petroleum products, the better the hydrocarbon absorption.

Scientists from Perm Polytechnic University isolated new oil-degrading microorganisms from gasoline-contaminated soil and studied the effects of temperature and hexadecane concentration (a hydrocarbon in oil pollution) on monoculture growth and their ability to break down oil waste.

“We selected 10 cultures from the microbiological museum for experiments and two new bacterial strains isolated from soil samples contaminated with petroleum products (No. 11 and 12). Preliminary identification places them in the genera Arthrobacter and Pseudomonas. Representatives of these genera play a significant role in the decomposition of organic matter,” comments Karina Zakharova, a student from the "Chemistry and Biotechnology" department at PNIPU.

“When introducing a suspension of microorganisms into soil with 1-2 percent contamination, a decrease in oil concentration was observed at a temperature of 20 °C. Values below this threshold increased the processing time. The culture 11 showed the highest efficiency, helping to reduce the content of petroleum products in the soil by 60 percent within two weeks. This suggests its potential for pollution remediation,” comments Galina Kozlova, an associate professor in the "Chemistry and Biotechnology" department at PNIPU and a candidate of chemical sciences.

The research conducted by scientists at Perm Polytechnic University has identified previously unexplored bacterial cultures capable of breaking down residues of oil and petroleum products. New effective oil degraders are being placed in microbiological museums and are being developed into biopreparations.