Grantee Research Project Results
2001 Progress Report: The Effect of In Situ Biosurfactant Production on Hydrocarbon Biodegradation
EPA Grant Number: R826161Title: The Effect of In Situ Biosurfactant Production on Hydrocarbon Biodegradation
Investigators: Strevett, Keith A. , Sabatini, David A. , Everett, Jess , Tanner, R.
Institution: University of Oklahoma
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: March 10, 1998 through March 9, 2001 (Extended to September 9, 2001)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 10, 2001 through March 9, 2002
Project Amount: $323,072
RFA: Exploratory Research - Environmental Engineering (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Safer Chemicals , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The objective of this research project is to investigate the effect of biosurfactants on the bioremediation of chemical matrices. Specifically, the impact (or enhancement) of biosurfactants on the bioavailability of hydrocarbons, assessment of microbial membrane characteristics as alerted by biosurfactants that may have an impact on the bioavailability of hydrocarbons, and the impact of biosurfactants on microbial migration (the ability of a microorganism to transport with a contaminated plume) will be studied.Progress Summary:
Microbial biosurfactants have been previously studied for their ability to increase hydrocarbon degradation. However, the current biosurfactant literature does not allow for predictable results when trying to determine the effects of a particular biosurfactant on the degradation of a specific hydrocarbon. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of the Bacillus licheniformis JF2 biosurfactant on the degradation of three classes of hydrocarbons under a variety of anaerobic conditions, with the intention of forming a prediction method. Target hydrocarbons included hexadecane, toluene, and naphthalene. Experimental conditions included the hydrocarbon added in neat form as well as delivered in a nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) layer, both with and without sediment. Although experimental results were inconclusive, progress was made in identifying certain experimental variables that need additional future research. One such variable is the presence of indigenous biosurfactant producers in soils. Experiments have determined that such bacteria exist in both contaminated and uncontaminated soils in significant numbers, and this may have an important impact on the future direction of biosurfactant research.Future Activities:
Future activities include developing a procedure for mass production of rhamnolipid using chemostat; testing for surfactant-producing bacteria in contaminated Fort Lupton, Colorado, soil; and conducting experiments on rhamnolipid and lipoprotein biosurfactants, naphthalene, toluene, and hexadecane.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
applied biosurfactant technology, microbial surface thermodynamics, biodegradation kinetics, environment restoration, toluene, naphthalene, hexadecane, JP-4, rhamnolipid, lipopeptide., Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Waste, Toxics, 33/50, Bioavailability, Bioremediation, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Engineering, biosurfactant specifity, bioremediation model, hydrocarbon degrading, aerobic degradation, Toluene, biodegradation, surface thermodynamics, chemical transport, biokinetic modelProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.