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Evaluation of rhamnolipid addition on the natural attenuation of estuarine sediments contaminated with diesel oil

  • 4th International Symposium on Environmental Biotechnology and Engineering-2014
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the bioremediation of estuarine sediments contaminated with diesel oil. The following two experiments were performed: natural attenuation (NA) and stimulated natural attenuation (SNA), using rhamnolipid as biosurfactant. Sediment samples were accommodated into glass columns and then contaminated with diesel oil on the top. The column profiles were separated into surface, middle, and bottom for the analyses. The 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) prioritized by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were monitored for 349 days. Those with three and four rings showed increasing concentrations through the operation period in the middle and bottom samples, particularly between days 111 and 338, and in the SNA experiment. Those with five and six rings were also detected in the deeper portions of the columns, suggesting the percolation of PAHs with a high molecular weight. Total organic carbon was reduced by 91 and 89 % in the NA and SNA samples, respectively, although no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the two treatments. The analyses by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis indicated a slight shift in the microbial community structure over the experiments. Microorganisms belonging to the γ-Proteobacteria phylum were the main bacteria involved. The archaeal community exhibited dominance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens, indicating the obligate anaerobic biodegradation of intermediate compounds from hydrocarbon degradation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by the following Brazilian agencies: the Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE; IBPG-1414-3.07/08, BFM-0008-3.07/11), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), the Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP), and the Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP). The authors would also like to thank PETROBRAS for supporting the RELINE/RECUPETRO network (UFPE, UFC, UFRN, UFCG, UFAL, and UFBA) and LMA-CTG-SENAI/RN for the analyses of hydrocarbons.

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  1. Laboratory of Environmental Sanitation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n. Cidade Universitária, CEP, Recife, PE, 50740-530, Brazil

    Mitsue M. Nakazawa, Sávia Gavazza, Mario T. Kato & Lourdinha Florencio

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  1. Mitsue M. Nakazawa
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Nakazawa, M.M., Gavazza, S., Kato, M.T. et al. Evaluation of rhamnolipid addition on the natural attenuation of estuarine sediments contaminated with diesel oil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 25522–25533 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7152-9

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