Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons and The Factors Effecting Rate of Biodegradation

Abstract

oil consists of over 30% poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hundred other various hydrocarbons such as nephthenes, paraffins, aromatic compounds as well as organic nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, and oxygen-containing hydrocarbons (phenols) [1]. Crude oil is a complex mixture of solid or gaseous hydrocarbons that ranges from 16 to 1800 in molecular weight, dissolved in liquid hydrocarbon, and therefore has a liquid appearance. Petroleum hydrocarbons are classified into four major groups, saturated aromatic-ringed hydrocarbons (branched, unbranched and cyclic structures) such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mono aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs), polar oil surface structures, resins dissipated in aromatics and saturates. Biodegradation is a treatment method used to remove a wide range of contaminants, including petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminants from soil [2].