Overview
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ABSTRACT
Anthropogenic hydrocarbons are among the most abundant contaminants of coastal ecosystems. Several remediation strategies of hydrocarbon-contaminated areas involving microorganisms (bioremediation) can be successfully used to mitigate the contamination. The hydrocarbonoclastic activities of indigenous microorganisms can be stimulated (biostimulation) by the addition of nutritional supplements (fertilizers), (bio)surfactants, terminal electron acceptors (e.g., O2, NO3-) or by electrostimulation. Selected strains/mixed cultures can be also added in the contaminated environments (bioaugmentation). Sometimes, however, to best strategy is to let the natural mitigation processes run and to monitor the natural recovery without any human intervention.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Philippe CUNY: Aix-Marseille University, University of Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
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Cécile MILITON: Aix-Marseille University, University of Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
INTRODUCTION
Hydrocarbons are among the most abundant contaminants in coastal marine systems. Many coastal areas around the world are subject to chronic inputs of these compounds, sometimes on a massive scale (oil spills). Their dynamics in the environment are complex, involving numerous interacting abiotic and biotic processes. Among these, hydrocarbon biodegradation, carried out by microorganisms sometimes specialized in their use (known as "hydrocarbonoclasts"), enables their effective elimination under oxic and anoxic conditions, both in seawater and in sediments. It can be used in a wide range of physico-chemical conditions of temperature, pH and salinity. This makes it a process of choice for ecological engineering to clean up (bioremediate) marine ecosystems polluted by hydrocarbons. The various bioremediation strategies aim to stimulate (biostimulate) the natural catabolic capacities of the microbial community indigenous to the polluted coastal environment. Stimulation can be achieved by adding nutrients (fertilizers), (bio)surfactants, terminal electron acceptors (e.g. O
2
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or through electrochemical processes (electrostimulation). Another strategy may involve introducing into the polluted medium hydrocarbonoclast strains/mixed cultures chosen for their hydrocarbon-degrading capabilities (bioaugmentation) and which may have been isolated from the same medium. Several of these strategies can also be combined (e.g. combined addition of fertilizers and biosurfactants).
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KEYWORDS
bioremediation | biostimulation | bioaugmentation
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Home Food–Chem–Bio industry processes Bioprocesses and bioproductions Bioremediation techniques for hydrocarbons in coastal marine systems
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Bioremediation techniques for hydrocarbons in coastal marine systems
Bibliography
- (1) - BEAUDOIN (D.J.), CARMICHAEL (C.A.), NELSON (R.K.), REDDY (C.M.), TESKE (A.P.), EDGCOMB (V.P.) - Impact of protists on a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial community from deep-sea Gulf of Mexico sediments : A microcosm study. - Deep Sea Research Part II : Topical Studies in Oceanography, 129, p. 350-359 (2016).
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Regulations
(non-exhaustive list)
Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of September 7, 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements (JORF of September 30, 2005).
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