Bacteria that decompose oil found<\/p>\n
By Joko Sarwono<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Researchers of the Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture (IPB) have discovered five species of bacteria that
\nthey say are capable of decomposing fossil oil.<\/p>\n
The discovery raises hopes for combating the pollution caused
\nby oilspills.<\/p>\n
The bacteria consist of five species that the researchers have
\nselected from hundreds of species living in the peatland of
\nCentral Kalimantan, an environment they call a \"black water\"
\necosystem.<\/p>\n
They identify the five bacteria as Pseudomonas stutzeri,
\nPseudomonas diminuta, Bacillus panthotenticus, Bacillus circulans
\nand Klebsiella edwardsii.<\/p>\n
Reports of the discovery were mentioned in the October 1999
\nissue of Jurnal Ilmu Tanah dan Lingkungan (Journal of Science on
\nSoil and Environment) published by IPB.<\/p>\n
Dr. Iswandi Anas, head of the Soil Biology Laboratory at the
\ninstitute, says research has been conducted since 1996,
\ncoinciding with the implementation of the one million peat farm
\nproject in Central Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
The research was done out of growing concern for the many
\ncases of environmental pollution caused by oilspills.<\/p>\n
\"If crude oil spills out of a tanker, it will invariably
\npollute the sea and coastline and cause a lot of damage to the
\nenvironment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that oilspills happen on land as well, due to the
\nleakage of pipelines, oil storage and accidents involving trucks
\ncarrying oil.<\/p>\n
Crude oil, according to Iswandi Anas, contains a large
\nquantity of phenol. The phenol compound is also found on
\npeatland, especially in the black water ecosystem.<\/p>\n
The ecosystem's name is derived from the color of water found
\nin the peatland.<\/p>\n
The ecosystem, he said, is unique. The phenol content is high.
\nThe compound is toxic and easily dissolves in water. \"Organisms
\nusually cannot live in an environment with a high phenol content.
\nBut there are organisms which can adapt themselves well and which
\neven use phenol as their main source of energy,\" said Iswandi.<\/p>\n
Apart from the high phenol content, he said, the acid level
\n(pH) of the water on the peatland was low, about three. The
\neffect of this is that only a limited number of organisms can
\nlive in the area.<\/p>\n
\"Organisms generally live at about 5-7 pH,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The black water ecosystem is rare in our world. In Indonesia,
\nit is found only in Central Kalimantan, Musi Banyuasin in South
\nSumatra and Jambi.<\/p>\n
\"Because the ecosystem is rare, the organisms in it are often
\nunique,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soil samples of the ecosystem were taken to find out what
\ntypes of microorganisms could adapt themselves.<\/p>\n
\"We found hundreds of bacteria species in the soil samples,\"
\nhe said. \"The bacteria species were separated and then cultured.\"<\/p>\n
The selected bacteria were tested in soil mixed with crude oil
\nand soil mixed with diesel oil. The microorganisms were able to
\ndecompose 48 percent of the crude oil and 64 percent of the
\ndiesel oil within 21 days.<\/p>\n
\"These results illustrate that the bacteria not only degrades
\nphenol but natural oil, too. The other compounds of natural oil
\nwere also degraded,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mohamad Sri Saeni, an IPB environmental chemistry expert, says
\nthat following up of the discovery is urgent considering the
\nfrequent incidents of oilspills.<\/p>\n
\"People living in industrial areas and near oil storage
\nfacilities are particularly at risk,\" he says.<\/p>\n
A recent survey in East Jakarta of industrial areas found that
\nwells are often contaminated by oil waste.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bacteria-that-decompose-oil-found-1447893297",
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