Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbon by indigenous fungi isolated from used motor oil contaminated sites

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eighteen indigenous fungal isolates has been successfully isolated from samples of used motor oil, top five centimetres of soil and drainage water contaminated with used motor oil. All of the pure fungal isolates obtained were identified, characterized and subjected to preliminary screening by evaluating the average growth rate of each fungal isolates on minimal media containing 1% (v/v) used motor oil. Trichoderma asperellum strain TUB F-1067 (SA4), Trichoderma asperellum strain Tr48 (SA5), Trichoderma asperellum strain TUB F-756 (SA6), Penicillium species (P1), and Aspergillus species (P9) were further selected for their hydrocarbon biodegradation potential. Among these five fungal isolates selected, P1 strain presented a significant degree of degradation by degrading almost all of the n-alkanes (n-C-15 to n-C-23 range) present in the used motor oil, thus of greater potential in degrading the aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds of used motor oil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

PAHs:

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons

MEA:

Malt extract agar

GC-FID:

Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

g:

Gram

ml:

Mililiter

rpm:

Rotation per minute

References

  • April TM, Fought JM, Currah RS (2000) Hydrocarbon-degrading filamentous fungi isolated from flare pit soils in northern and western Canada. Can J Microbiol 46:38–49. doi:10.1139/cjm-46-1-38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • April TM, Abbott SP, Foght JM, Currah RS (1998) Degradation of hydrocarbons in crude oil by the ascomycete Pseudallescheria boydii (Microascaceae). Can J Microbiol 44:270–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boonchan S, Britz ML, Stantley GA (2000) Degradation and mineralization of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by defined fungal-bacterial cocultures. Appl Environ Microb 66(3):1007–1019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bumpus JA, Tien M, Wright D, Aust SD (1985) Oxidation of persistent environmental pollutants by a white rot fungus. Science 228:1434–1436. doi:10.1126/science.3925550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bumpus JA (1989) Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Appl Environ Microbiol 55:154–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cerniglia CE, Sutherland JB (2001) Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by ligninolytic and non-ligninolytic fungi. In: Gadd GM (ed) Fungi in bioremediation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 136–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaillan F, Le Fleche A, Bury E, Phantavong Y, Grimont P, Saliot A et al (2004) Identification and biodegradation potential of tropical aerobic hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. Res Microbiol 155(7):587–595. doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2004.04.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clemente AR, Anazawa TA, Durrant LR (2001) Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by soil fungi. Braz J Microbiol 32:255–261. doi:10.1590/S1517-83822001000400001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colombo JC, Cabello M, Arambarri M (1996) Biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by natural soil microflora and pure cultures of imperfect and ligninolytic fungi. Environ Pollut 94:355–362. doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(96)00044-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Launen L, Pinto L, Wiebe C, Kiehlmann E, Moore M (1995) The oxidation of pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene by nonbasidiomycete soil fungi. Can J Microbiol 41:477–488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mesyami P, Baheri M (2003) Pre-screening of fungi and bulking agents for contaminated soil bioremediation. Adv Environ Res 7:881–887. doi:10.1016/S1093-0191(02)00083-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Molla AH, Fakhru’l-Razi A, Abd-Aziz S, Hanafi MM, Poychoudhury PK, Alam MZ (2002) A potential resource for bioconversion of domestic wastewater sludge. Bioresour Technol 85(3):263–272. doi:10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00117-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novotny C, Erbanova P, Sasek V, Kubatova A, Cajthaml T, Lang E et al (1999) Extracellular oxidative enzyme production and PAH removal in soil by exploratory mycelium of white rot fungi. Biodegradation 10:159–168. doi:10.1023/A:1008324111558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plohl K, Leskovšek H, Bricelj M (2002) Biological degradation of motor oil in water. Acta Chim Slov 49:279–289

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prenafeta-Boldú FX, Kuhn A, Luykx D, Anke H, van Groenestijn JW, de Bont JAM (2001) Isolation and characterisation of fungi growing on volatile aromatic hydrocarbons as their sole carbon and energy source. Mycol Res 105:477–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos VL, Linardi VR (2004) Biodegradation of phenol by a filamentous fungi isolated from industrial effluents-identificqation and degradation potential. Process Biochem 39:1001–1006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos EO, Centeno da Rosa CF, dos Passos CT, Sanzo AVL, de Medeiros Burkert JF, Kalil SJ et al (2008) Pre-screening of filamentous fungi isolated from a contaminated site in Southern Brazil for bioaugmentation purposes. Afr J Biotechnol 7(9):1314–1317

    Google Scholar 

  • Saraswathy A, Hallberg R (2002) Degradation of pyrene by indigenous fungi from a former gaswork site. FEMS Microbiol Lett 210:227–232. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11185.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saraswathy A, Hallberg R (2005) Mycelial pellet formation by Penicillium ochrochloron species due to exposure to pyrene. Microbiol Res 160:375–383. doi:10.1016/j.micres.2005.03.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada K, Mukumoto H, Katsuyama Y, Tani Y (2002) Degradation of long-chain alkanes by a polyethelene-degrading fungus, Penicillium simplicissimum YK. Enzyme Microb Technol 30:828–831. doi:10.1016/S0141-0229(02)00065-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wished to thank Associate Prof. Dr. Zani Assim for helping with the analysis of the hydrocarbon and the use of gas chromatography with flame-ionization detector (GC-FID) equipment. This research project is funded and part of the research consultancy project between Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Enggang Services and Product (ESP) Sdn Bhd (Grant No: UNIMAS/18-02/09-01.14).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

    A. Husaini, H. A. Roslan, K. S. Y. Hii & C. H. Ang

Authors
  1. A. Husaini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. A. Roslan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. S. Y. Hii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. H. Ang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Husaini.

Additional information

The authors would like to certify that the work have not been sent/considered to be published in other journals.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Husaini, A., Roslan, H.A., Hii, K.S.Y. et al. Biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbon by indigenous fungi isolated from used motor oil contaminated sites. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 2789–2797 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-008-9806-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-008-9806-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation