Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminants in a mixed culture bioreactor

• Main Author: Amodu, Olusola S
• Published: Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2016
• Subjects: Agrowaste; Bacillus licheniformis; Bioconversion; Biodegradation; Biosurfactant; Kinetics; Modelling; Magnetic nanoparticles; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon; Solid State Fermentation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/934

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor Technologiae: Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology - Cape Town, South Africa === Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most common and recalcitrant environmental contaminants – known for their potential toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity to humans. Biosurfactant application can enhance the biodegradation of PAHs. The main object of this work was to explore the novelty of biosurfactant produced by the isolated strains of Bacillus sp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown exclusively on Beta vulgaris, and the modification of the zeolites nanoparticles by the biosurfactant, for enhanced biodegradation of PAHs in soil. Novel biosurfactant-producing strains were isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated environments, while several agrowaste were screened as primary carbon sources for the expression of biosurfactants, which were quantified using various standardized methods......