Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Exopolymers Synthesized by Moderately Halophilic Bacteria: Chemical Composition and Functional Properties

Three strains of halophilic bioemulsifier-producing bacteria; Bacillus sp. 2BSG-PDA-16, Bacillus sp. DV2-37 and Bacillus licheniformis ABRII6 were isolated from crude oil polluted water samples. Characteristics of exopolymers produced by these strains in media supplemented with various hydrocarbons instead of glucose were studied. Yield production, chemical composition, emulsifying, rheological and flocculating properties of exopolymers varied according to the strain and the carbon source. The highest amount of exopolymers synthesized by Bacillus sp. 2BSG-PDA-16, Bacillus sp. DV2-37 and B. licheniformis ABRII6 was 11, 18.5 and 12.4 g/l, respectively from media amended with glucose, while the most active emulsifiers were those obtained from media added with crude oil. Furthermore, all exopolymers produced were capable of emulsifying crude oil more efficiently than the three chemical surfactants tested as control (Tween 20, Tween 80 and Triton X-100). Respect to chemical composition, exopolymers produced on hydrocarbons always have lower content of carbohydrates and proteins than exopolymers produced in medium amended with glucose, however they showed higher amounts of uronic acids, sulfates and acetyl residues. The rheological study suggested that the exopolymers have characteristics of the pseudoplastic fluids. Efficiency of bacterial strains to remove PAH seems to agree with their potential applicability in oil bioremediation technology.