Effect of dispersants on the growth of indigenous bacterial population and biodegradation of crude oil

Abstract

Oil dispersants (5 from Castrol Ltd., Bombay and 2 from British Petroleum, London) were studied individually and in combination with Saudi Arabian crude oil for their effect on the growth of indigenous bacteria and on the biodegradation of oil. None of the dispersants were toxic, except IB 2/80, to the bacterial population. All of the dispersants, when used alone, or in combination with the crude oil, supported good growth of bacteria. The Saudi Arabian crude oil by itself was toxic to the bacteria, and when mixed with the dispersants reduced their rates of biodegradation. Maximum degradation (46.4%) was observed with the mixture of crude oil and dispersant IB 1/80.