Description
In this study, it was investigated and demonstrated for the first time the ability of
C.lipolytica UCP 0988 to grow without previous acclimatization in natural sea water
contaminated with B7 diesel oil and to degrade aliphatic hydrocarbons and fatty acids of
biodiesel, with the support of the phenomena of quimiotropism, dimorphism and biofilm
formation on glass and stainless steel surfaces of agitated tank batch reactor, used as a
physical model for ex-situ bioremediation laboratory simulation of hydrocarbon polluted
sea water. Photographic records, visual inspection, optical microscopy and scanning
electronics were used to monitor the phenomena of chemotropism, dimorphism and
biofilm formation. Gas chromatography using flame ionization detector associated with
mass spectrometry was used to identify and determine percentages of individual and
overall biodegradation of 13 open chain alkanes, 1 branched chain alkane, 2 petrodiesel
isopropenoid alkanes and 3 methyl esters of the biodiesel. Percentages of total removal
equal to 47.95%, 94.63% and 97.72% were obtained respectively at 1, 49 and 69 days.
The proposed ex-situ bioremediation system model presents potential for application in
bioremediation of seawater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.