Petroleum oil removal by immobilized bacterial cells on polyurethane foam under different temperature conditions

Abstract

In this work, a mixed biofilm composed by Pseudomonas monteilii P26 and Gordonia sp. H19 was formed using polyurethane foam (PUF) as immobilization support, for crude oil removal from artificial sea water. Fresh immobilized cells and immobilized cells that were stored at 4 °C for two months before use were assessed. The oil removal assays were carried out at microcosm scale at 4, 15 and 30 °C. A viability loss of P. monteilii P26 was observed after the storage. The highest removal value (75%) was obtained at 30 °C after 7 days using fresh immobilized cells on PUF. Enhanced oil bioremoval was obtained at 4 °C and 15 °C with the previously stored immobilized cells compared to the fresh immobilized cells. Crude oil sorption on the different systems was responsible for the removal of 22–33% oil at the different temperatures. In conclusion, an economic tool for petroleum bioremediation is proposed.