Abstract
The remediation potentials of diesel oil by two white rot fungi ( Basidiomycota; Hymenomycetes ) Heterobasidion annosum 13.12B and Resinicium bicolor were tested in two artificially contaminated experimental matrices: Norkran’s liquid medium and Insch - Pitcaple soil collected from Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Gravimetric measurements showed reductions in the weight of the hydrocarbon extract from soil inoculated with H. annosum 13.12B and R. bicolor . The reduction in diesel extract was observed to be higher in the treatments with H. annosum 13.12B compare with other treatments in soil microcosm amended with 3.5 and 7 % diesel oil. Significant increase in extractable hydrocarbon was detected in Norkran’s liquid medium amended with 1 and 3.5 % diesel oil. These results showed that white rot fungi could be harnessed to remediate soil contaminated with diesel oil in the field. Keywords : bioremediation, diesel oil, Heterobasidion annosum, Resinicium bicolor , pollution, gravimetric measurement
Highlights
Soil is a major reservoir for organic contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, which include diesel oil
The sterility test for diesel oil showed no bacterial or fungal growth indicating that microorganisms find it difficult to survive high concentrations of diesel oil
Significant decrease was observed for treatment inoculated with H. annosum between days 0 and 11 in soil treated with 3.5 % and 7 % diesel oil (P < 0.05)
Summary
Soil is a major reservoir for organic contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, which include diesel oil. Soil contamination by oil spills is a serious environmental problem that may affect human health (Kingston, 2002). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recorded 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as “pollutants of concern”, a decision endorsed by the European Union (Semple et al, 2003; Igbinosa et al, 2013). These known problems have prompted research on the identification of microorganisms with specific oil degrading potential
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