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Using Gas Chromatography to Analyze the Ability of O. anthropi, B. cereus and P. putida to Degrade Petroleum Oil

CSEF · 2002 Environmental Engineering

Holly A. Miles · Northwood High School, Irvine

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this study is to analyze the three bacteria's efficiency and characteristics concerning biodegradation, and determine the potential for application in oil spill clean-up. Also, to draw relationships between the rate of hydrocarbon degradation, time, and the number of carbons in the hydrocarbon chains. Methods/Materials Nineteen 25ml saltwater samples were prepared in test tubes to simulate the salinity of the ocean. Three bacteria, P.putida, B.cereus and O.anthropi, were inoculated into four different tubes (12 samples ). The samples were contaminated with 1.25 ml of Exxon Crude Oil. After 18 days, the hydrocarbons were extracted from 2 samples of each bacteria and then analyzed with a Gas Chromatograph (GC). After 35 days, the analytical process was repeated using the remaining samples. Three sets of controls were run: one determining the original composition of the oil, one testing the composition after 18 days and one to determine the composition of the samples before contamination. Results Data from this study is based upon chromatograms, the result of a gas chromatograph test. The bacteria were found to degrade the oil in the following order of efficiency: P.putida, B.cereus, O.anthropi. P.putida proved to be dramatically more effective than the other bacteria. All bacteria degraded more oil in the second interval of 18 days than in the first. Conclusions/Discussion It was concluded that all three bacteria are capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons however P.putida is the most effective. It was found that the rate of degradation increases over time as the bacteria population increases exponentially. An inverse relationship was found between the number of carbons in a hydrocarbon and its biodegradability. This study also suggests that a prominant unifying characteristic of aerobic oleophilic bacteria is an oxygenase enzyme. Finally, it has been concluded that P.putida could effectively be used to clean up marine oil spills in its natural environment.

Summary statement

This project analyzes the ability of O.anthropi, B.cereus and P.putida to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons after a marine oil spill.

Help received

Used Gas Chromatograph equipment at UCLA under the supervision of Dr.Indira Venkatesan and Professor Edward C. Ruth

Awards (1)

  • Category Award

Competition history

  • CSEF 2002 Environmental Engineering · Entry S0805

Resources

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