Surfactant Enhanced Bioremediation of Saline Diesel Contaminated Water by a Novel Bacterial Halophilic Consortium

ABSTRACT

The use of microorganisms is an evolving method for the degradation of hydrocarbon contaminants. In this aim, halophilic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were isolated from oil contaminated soil in Tunisia. A lipopeptide biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis SPB1 was tested to increase diesel biodegradation along with co‐inoculation with two BioS producing strains. Results revealed the enhancement of diesel biodegradation by the selected halophilic consortia when co‐inoculating with B. subtilis SPB1 and the halophilic newly isolated strain (H1). The addition of the SPB1 lipopeptide seems not to have a pronounced effect on the biodegradation efficiency. However, the addition of an anionic surfactant SDS improves diesel digestion by 9.18%. Biostimulation with an organic nitrogen source improves greatly diesel biodegradation (25.24%). Results suggested the potential applicability of the selected consortia along with the in situ added BioS and biostimulation for the bioremediation of diesel contaminated water in marine environment.