Phenanthrene degradation, emulsification and surface tension activities of a pseudomonas putida strain isolated from a coastal oil contaminated microbial mat

Abstract

Kinetics of phenanthrene degradation, emulsification and surface tension activities of this hydrocarbon upon degradation by a Pseudomonas putida (COB 3-2) isolated from a coastal microbial mat were investigated. After 27 days of incubation at 20°C, 71.4±3.4 % of the initial phenanthrene amount (0.4 g l^-1) were biodegraded. Observation of both tension-active and emulsifying activities indicated that biosurfactants, probably rhamnolipids, are generated. The high phenanthrene degrading capacity and biosurfactant production potential of this newly isolated P. putida strain may contribute positively to oil bioremediation processes within the microbial mat.

Keywords:

• phenanthrene
• biodegradation
• biosurfactants
• Pseudomonas putida
• microbial mat