Chemostats were newly invented and fabricated to simulate open ocean conditions forrefreshing water, agitation, temperature and other factors. Experiments were operated to test different variables influencing rate of biodegradation, which includes oil amount, water-washed oil or not, seawater flow rate, stirring rate, air flow, water source, temperature, nutrient, and oil composition. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) was used to track the oil compositional changes. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) helped to detect changes in the biomarkers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the oil. The microbial communities associated with oil slicks in the experiments showed population shifts to a greater percentage of hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms after oil was added to the seawater. Phylogenetic analysis and qPCR data suggest that certain genera of microorganisms were involved in degrading different fractions of the oil. For example, Phylogenetic analysis showed that the genera Oceanobacter kriegii/Thalassolituus oleivorans could be alkane-degraders. qPCR results indicated that Alcanivorax and Legionella play important roles in biodegradation of n-alkanes and isoprenoids. Combined geochemical and microbiological studies of oil weathering will enable a better understanding the fate of spilled oil in the open ocean.

Laboratory simulation of oil biodegradation in the marine environment

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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