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Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in anoxic marine sediments: Consequences on the speciation of heavy metals
Dell'Anno, A.; Beolchini, F.; Gabellini, M.; Rocchetti, L.; Pusceddu, A.; Danovaro, R. (2009). Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in anoxic marine sediments: Consequences on the speciation of heavy metals. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 58(12): 1808-1814. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.08.002
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons
    Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons > Petroleum hydrocarbons
    Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals
    Chemical reactions > Degradation > Biodegradation
    Pollution > Sediment pollution
    Sediments
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Marine sediments; Bioremediation; Hydrocarbons; Heavy metals

Authors  Top 
  • Dell'Anno, A.
  • Beolchini, F.
  • Gabellini, M.
  • Rocchetti, L.
  • Pusceddu, A.
  • Danovaro, R., more

Abstract
    We investigated the effects of biostimulation and bioagumentation strategies applied to harbor sediments displaying reducing conditions and high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals. We compared the microbial efficiency of hydrocarbon removal from sediments maintained for 60 days in anoxic conditions and inoculated with acetate, sulfate-reducing bacterial strains and acetate and sulfate-reducing bacteria. All treatments determined a significant increase in the microbial growth and significant decreases of hydrocarbon contents and of redox potential values. The addition of sulfate-reducing bacterial strains to the sediment was the most efficient treatment for the hydrocarbon removal. In all experiments, significant changes of the heavy metals’ phase repartition were observed. The results reported here suggest that the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in anoxic marine sediments may be enhanced by stimulating microbial anaerobic metabolism, but care should be applied to monitor the potential changes in the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals induced by bio-treatments.

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