Biological treatment of transformer oil using commercial mixtures of microorganisms

The biodegradation of six PCB congeners (IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 168) present in transformer oil using different commercial mixtures of microorganisms (Sybron 1000, Biozyn 301, Biozyn 300, DBC 5, ChZR, NS 20-10, NS 20-20, NS 20) under anoxic, oxygen or anoxic/ oxygen treatments was investigated at laboratory scale. Overall, PCB congener’s biodegradation was observed in all treatments in the ranges of 0-99%, 2-97% and 40-94% under anoxic, oxygen or anoxic/ oxygen treatments, respectively. Highest biodegradation of total PCB congeners occurred using Sybron under oxygen and anoxic conditions (340.30 mg l-1 and 123.03 mg l-1, respectively). Also, the highest biodegradation extent of the PCB congeners occurred when the commercially available mixture of microorganisms Sybron was used (216.94 mg l-1) under combined anoxic/ oxygen conditions. Demonstration that biodegradation of most of the individual PCB congeners was achieved by the commercial mixtures of microorganisms in this study suggests that PCB-impacted environments can sustain populations of these PCB-metabolizing organisms. This is particularly relevant for the development of biostimulation or bioaugmentation strategies for the bioremediation of PCBs-contaminated wastes.

SOBIECKA Elzbieta;  CEDZYNSKA Krystyna;  BIELSKI Conrad;  ANTIZAR-LADISLAO Blanca; 

2014-07-29

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

JRC37866

0964-8305,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964830508001911#,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC37866,   

10.1016/j.ibiod.2008.06.007,