Abstract
Degradation efficiency of a heavy crude oil by a marine microbial consortium was evaluated in this study, with and without the addition of a chemical dispersant (Nokomis 3-F4). 15.50% of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were removed after 15 days of incubation without dispersant, with a degradation rate of 2.39 ± 0.22 mg L−1 day−1. In contrast, the addition of Nokomis 3-F4 increased TPH degradation up to 30.81% with a degradation rate of 5.07 ± 0.37 mg L−1 day−1. 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated a dominance of the consortium by Achromobacter and Alcanivorax. Nonetheless, significant increases in the relative abundance of Martelella and Ochrobactrum were observed with the addition of Nokomis 3-F4. These results will contribute to further environmental studies of the Gulf of Mexico, where Nokomis 3-F4 can be used as chemical dispersant.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Rosa Cristina Canul Puc for the maintenance of the marine microbial consortium and Abril Gamboa Muñoz for supporting in the library preparation for Illumina sequencing. This research was supported by Mexican National Council for Science and Technology – CONACyT – Mexican Ministry of Energy – Hydrocarbon Fund, project 201441 and CONACYT Grants 15689-2014 and 251622-2015 to J.Q.G.M. M.M.U.F received a CONACYT PhD fellowship [Grant 265004-2014-2018]. We acknowledge PEMEX’s specific request to the Hydrocarbon Fund to address the environmental effects of oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a contribution of the Gulf of Mexico Research Consortium (CIGoM).
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Uribe-Flores, M.M., García-Cruz, U., Hernández-Nuñez, E. et al. Assessing the Effect of Chemical Dispersant Nokomis 3-F4 on the Degradation of a Heavy Crude Oil in Water by a Marine Microbial Consortium. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 108, 93–98 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03247-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03247-y