Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
Biodegradation of bilge waste from Patagonia with an indigenous microbial community
M L Nievas1, M G Commendatore, N L Olivera
1Centro Nacional Patagónico, Unidad de Investigación de Climatología y Oceanografía, Laboratorio de Oceanografía Química y Contaminación de Aguas, CONICET, Bv Brown s/n(o), U9120ACF, Puerto Madryn, Argentina. nievas@cenpat.edu.ar
Abstract:
Oily residues that are generated in normal ship operation are considered hazardous wastes. A biodegradation assay with autochthonous microbiota of Bilge Waste Oily Phase (BWOP) was performed in a bioreactor under controlled conditions. Petroleum, diesel oil, and PAH degraders were isolated from bilge wastes. These bacteria belong to the genus Pseudomonas and are closely related to Pseudomonas stutzeri as shown by 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis. The indigenous microbial community of the bilge waste was capable of biodegrading the BWOP (1% v/v) with biodegradation efficiencies of 70% for hexane extractable material (HEM), 68% for total hydrocarbons (TH) and 90% for total aromatics hydrocarbons (TA) in 14 days. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was successfully applied to evaluate hydrocarbon evaporation in a control experiment and demonstrated a mass balance closure of 88%. The SPME and biodegradation results give useful information to improve and scale up the process for BWOP treatment.
More Related Videos
08:43Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
Published on: October 24, 2025
15:19Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Bioremediation
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Bioplastics
Marine Microbial Ecology