Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 as a biological agent in bioremediation processes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sludge farms

• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10733-1
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17T06:02:46Z
• Authors: Guilherme Pinto C...; Marcela Marmitt; Marlon Ferraz; Sabrina Nicole Arend; Gabriela Kern; Regina Célia Espi...; Ana Lusia Leal; Victor Hugo Valiati
• Keywords: Farms; Sewage; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; Biological Factors; Biodegradation, Environmental; 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; Soil Pollutants; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Environmental Monitoring; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the main pollutants generated by the refining and use of oil. To search bioremediation alternatives for these compounds, mainly in situ, considering the biotic and abiotic variables that affect the contaminated sites is determinant for the success of bioremediation techniques. In this study, bioremediation strategies were evaluated in situ, including biostimulation and bioaugmentation for 16 priority PAHs present in activated sludge farms. B. vietnamiensis G4 was used as a biodegradation agent for bioaugmentation tests. The analyses occurred for 12 months, and temperature and humidity were measured to verify the effects of these factors on the biodegradation. We used the technique GC-MS to evaluate and quantify the degradation of PAHs over the time of the experiment. Of the four treatments applied, bioaugmentation with quarterly application proved to be the best strategy, showing the degradation of compounds of high (34.4% annual average) and low (21.9% annual average) molecular weight. A high degradation rate for high molecular weight compounds demonstrates that this technique can be successfully applied in bioremediation of areas with compounds considered toxic and stable in nature, contributing to the mitigation of impacts generated by PAHs.