Bioremediation of Petroleum Sludge using Bacterial Consortium with Biosurfactant

Several strategies have been attempted for bioremediation of hydrocarbonpolluted sites. Bioaugmentation with designed bacterial consortium, followed by the addition of rhamnolipid biosurfactant and NPK solution to soils contaminated with up to 10% tank bottom sludge, enhanced the rate of biodegradation over a period of 56 days. Pre-treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated soil with biosurfactants enhanced bioavailability of the hydrocarbons to microbial population. Furthermore, supplementation with inorganic nutrients like NPK solution enhanced the secondary successions of crude petroleum utilizers. For bioremediation, a single inoculation with the biosufactant-producing hydrocarbon degrading bacterial consortium at the beginning of the process would reduce the cost of inoculum preparation considerably. Hence we suggest a combined treatment as a possible bioremediation technology for the reclamation of oil sludge polluted soils.