In situ degradation of oil in a soil of the boreal region of the Northwest Territories

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Microbiology
• Main Authors: Westlake, D. W. S., Jobson, A. M., Cook, F. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1978
• Subjects: Genetics; Molecular Biology; Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; General Medicine; Immunology; Microbiology; Northwest Territories; Canada; Norman Wells; Cotton-grass
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/m78-044; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/m78-044

Replicate field plots comprising a control: control plus oil: control plus oil and fertilizer (urea phosphate. 27:27:0); control plus oil and bacteria: and control plus oil, fertilizer, and bacteria were established at Norman Wells, N.W.T., Canada. Plots were monitored over a 3-year period for changes in microbial numbers and the chemical composition of recovered oil. Where fertilizer was applied, there was a rapid increase in bacterial numbers, but no increase in fungal propagules. This was followed by a rapid disappearance of n-alkanes, isoprenoids, and a continuous loss in weight of saturate compounds in recovered oil. Changes in the content of asphaltenes, aromatics, and nitrogen-, sulphur-, and oxygen-containing fractions also are discussed. The seeding of oil-soaked plots with oil-degrading bacteria did not have any effect on the composition of recovered oil. Fertilized plots showed a more rapid rate of vegetation with cotton grass and Labrador tea being the dominant species in revegetation.