Evaluation of the ability of microorganisms Rhodococcus fascians LMG3623 and Penicillium sp. in the degradation of asphaltene isolated from soil
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Soil Science Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
10.22059/jne.2025.401188.2836
Abstract
Petroleum compounds and their derivatives are among the most harmful pollutants affecting soil and water globally. A particular group of crude oil components, known as polar compounds—including resins and asphaltenes—are notably difficult to degrade due to their complex molecular structures. This study focused on identifying microorganisms capable of breaking down residual asphaltenes in petroleum-contaminated soils. The bacteria and fungi used in this research were sourced from the microbial collection of the soil science and engineering department at the University of Tehran; these strains were originally isolated from sites with long-term petroleum contamination and wastewater pollution. The ability of these strains to degrade petroleum was tested through pure culture incubation over one week in 50 mL of Bushnell-Haas medium containing 500 and 1000 mg/L of asphaltenes. Results indicated that the bacterium Rhodococcus fascians LMG3623 and the fungus Penicillium sp. removed 36% and 14.5%, and 22% and 14.5% of the asphaltenes at 500 and 1000 mg/L concentrations, respectively, after 60 days in liquid culture. Furthermore, biomass production was measured at 9.8 mg/mL for the bacterium and 6 mg/mL for the fungus at 500 mg/L asphaltene concentration. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of asphaltenes treated with Rhodococcus fascians LMG3623, compared to untreated controls, showed that bacterial degradation targeted alkane, alkyne, alkene, and aromatic groups, converting them into oxygen-containing, phosphorous, aliphatic, ketone, and amine functional groups.
Keywords
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