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Potential biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum hydrocarbons by indigenous fungi recovered from crude oil-contaminated soil in Iran

Summary

Scientists isolated fungi from oil-contaminated soil in Iran to find species that can break down petroleum pollutants. Two fungi species, Alternaria tenuissima and Epicoccum nigrum, showed exceptional ability to degrade harmful oil compounds called PAHs. When applied to contaminated soil in the laboratory, these fungi successfully eliminated over 70% of the long-chain hydrocarbons. This research offers a natural and cost-effective way to clean up oil-spilled soil without using harsh chemicals.

Background

Petroleum contamination poses a severe threat to soil ecosystems and human health, particularly due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are recalcitrant pollutants. Mycoremediation using indigenous fungi has emerged as a promising environmentally-friendly approach to remediate oil-contaminated sites. This study focused on identifying fungal species from crude oil-contaminated soil in the Yadavaran oil field in Iran with high biodegradation potential.

Objective

To isolate and characterize indigenous fungal species from crude oil-contaminated and non-contaminated soil with potential to biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The goal was to identify the most promising fungal isolates for application in soil bioremediation efforts.

Results

Isolates were classified into 16 genera and 25 species, with Alternaria spp. (78%), Fusarium spp. (5%), and Cladosporium spp. (4%) being most prevalent. Approximately 35% of isolates demonstrated promising tolerance to crude oil. Two top-performing isolates, Alternaria tenuissima (5c-12) and Epicoccum nigrum (3b-1), degraded over 70% of long-chain hydrocarbons in contaminated soil within 60 days, including C8-C16 n-alkanes and PAHs like pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene.

Conclusion

Alternaria tenuissima and Epicoccum nigrum demonstrate high potential for biodegrading petroleum compounds and PAHs in both in vitro and soil conditions. These fungal isolates offer promising prospects for mycoremediation of oil-contaminated soil. The study highlights the effectiveness of indigenous fungi as cost-effective and environmentally-safe agents for decontamination of petroleum-polluted sites.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 38092846, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49630-z
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