Inoculants and Biodegradation of Crude Oil Floating on Marsh Sediments

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Abstract
The efficacy of ten commercial bioremediation products in enhancing the biodegradation of crude oil was investigated in the laboratory at 10 or 30a°C for 90 d with and without supplemental nitrogen and phosphorus. Oil was added to a 1-cm layer of water covering sediments from a salt marsh. The products did not increase the numbers of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms in water and sediments but did increase heterotrophic populations at 21 d. Some bioremediation products more than doubled the quantity of hydrocarbons degraded in 45 d at 10°C. At 30°C, no product increased degradation compared to the fertilized control in which 70% of the added hydrocarbons were degraded. Two products increased the percentage of hydrocarbons degraded from 42% to approximately 65% in 45 d at 30°C when supplemental fertilizer was not provided. The hydrocarbon concentration was not significantly reduced between 45 and 90 d for most product treatments at either temperature. At 10°C, products seemed to have the greatest potential for enhancing oil bioremediation compared to the control.