Transformer oil degradation by an indigenous microflora isolated from a contaminated soil

Abstract

Abstract In this study polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, mostly penta to heptachlorinated isomers) from transformer oil were degraded under aerobic conditions in liquid culture using a mixed culture isolated from a soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and other hydrocarbons. Microorganisms in the mixed culture were identified as Comamonas acidovorans , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus , Achromobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., Flavobacterium devorans , Bacillus lentus , Bacillus mascerans and Bacillus thuringiensis . A fungus of the genus of Paecilomyces and one strain belonging to Actinomyces were partially identified. The mixed culture could remove 75% of PCBs (88% w/v in the transformer oil). Our results provide evidence that naturally occurring aerobic microorganisms in the soil have the potential to attack PCBs.