Degradation of petroleum industry oil sludge by Rhodotorula rubra and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Rhodotorula rubra and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to have the potential to degrade petrochemical oil sludge. As a result of treatment there was a considerable decrease in BOD, COD and the content of various hydrocarbon fractions. Gas chromatographic analysis of the saturate fraction of oil sludge samples with various times of treatment revealed the preferential utilization of higher n-alkanes as compared to lower n-alkanes.