Studies on biodegradation of crude oil by Aspergillus niger

Abstract

Hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms play a major r ole in the environment. In the present study crude oil degrading fungal strain Aspergillus niger was isolated from o il contaminated soil near crude oil production well (Lingala) Andhra Pradesh. The rate of reduction in some petroleum hy drocarbon fractions, such as n-alkanes, aromatics, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen (NSO)-containing compounds and polycycli c aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were monitored by m eans of gas chromatography. The nC 17/Pristine and n C18/Phytane ratios, extrapolated from the GC profiles decreased from the initial value of 2.510 and 7.289 to 0.132 and 0.474 respect ively at day 60.