Microbial Degradation Of Normal Paraffin Hydrocarbons In Crude Oil

Abstract

Abstract Experiments designed to measure the oxidation and degradation of crude oils by naturally occurring marine microorganisms are presently being conducted. Fifty active oil degrading cultures have been isolated in enriched seawater containing crude oil. Oil degradation has been determined with gas chromatography, wet combustion, and by measurement of surface tension. Normal paraffin hydrocarbons through C-26 are degraded by two different groups of micro organisms-those growing in the oil phase only and those growing in the aqueous phase. Emulsification of the crude oil through production of surfactants was observed in many of the enriched cultures. Microbial degradation of 35 to 55 per cent of oxidizable crude oil occurred within 60 hours.