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Microbial degradation of crude oil hydrocarbons on organoclay minerals

Lookup NU author(s): Uzochukwu Ugochukwu Ugochukwu, Professor David ManningORCiD, Dr Claire Fialips

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Abstract

The role of organoclays in hydrocarbon removal during biodegradation was investigated in aqueous clay/oil microcosm experiments with a hydrocarbon degrading microorganism community. The clays used for this study were Na-montmorillonite and saponite. These two clays were treated with didecyldimethylammonium bromide to produce organoclays which were used in this study. The study indicated that clays with high cation exchange capacity (CEC) such as Na-montmorillonite produced an organomontmorillonite that was inhibitory to biodegradation of the crude oil hydrocarbons. Extensive hydrophobic interaction between the organic phase of the organoclay and the crude oil hydrocarbons is suggested to render the hydrocarbons unavailable for biodegradation. However, untreated Namontmorillonite was stimulatory to biodegradation of the hydrocarbons and is believed to have done so because of its high surface area for the accumulation of microbes and nutrients making it easy for the microbes to access the nutrients. This study indicates that unlike unmodified montmorillonites, organomontmorillonite may not serve any useful purpose in the bioremediation of crude oil spill sites where hydrocarbon removal by biodegradation is desired within a rapid time period. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ugochukwu UC, Manning DAC, Fialips CI

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Environmental Management

Year: 2014

Volume: 144

Pages: 197-202

Print publication date: 01/11/2014

Online publication date: 21/06/2014

Acceptance date: 02/06/2014

ISSN (print): 0301-4797

ISSN (electronic): 1095-8630

Publisher: Academic Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.06.002

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.06.002


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