Original scientific paper

Complementary Degradation of Fuel Oil in Superficial Waters and in Axenic Cultures of Aerobic Gram-negative Bacteria Isolated from Venice Lagoon

Franco Baldi ; Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università di Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy
Milva Pepi ; Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università di Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy
Renato Fani ; Dipartimento di Biologia Animate e Genetica, Università di Firenze, Via Romana, 17-50125 Firenze, Italy
Francescopaolo Di Cello ; Dipartimento di Biologia Animate e Genetica, Università di Firenze, Via Romana, 17-50125 Firenze, Italy
Luisa Da Ros ; Istituto di Biologia del Mare, C.N.R., Castello 1364/A, Venezia. Italy
Valentino U. Fossato ; Istituto di Biologia del Mare, C.N.R., Castello 1364/A, Venezia. Italy

Abstract

The percentages of bacteria degrading fuel oil (n-paraffins from C*2 to C28) were determined in three stations in the northern part of Venice Lagoon. Concentrations of paraffin-degrading bacteria ranged from 8 to 70 bacteria per 100 mL in the least polluted station close to the sea, and from 33 to 345 bacteria per 100 mL in the most polluted station near Porto Marghera. Biological oxygen demand with fuel oil additions was higher in this station, where oxygen was totally depleted in 7 and 5 days in November and June respectively. Twenty-five bacterial strains were isolated from agar plates amended with fuel oil as the sole carbon and energy source; only two were Acinetobacter spp. strains. Strain VE-C3 grew in the presence of n-paraffins. Growth was inducible with a generation time of 2.77 h and an oxygen consumption rate of 53 pL h-1 mg-1 of cells (d.w.).
Five other strains thrived on intermediate oxidation products of n-paraffin.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

135624

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/135624

Publication date:

3.4.1997.

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