Development of a Biological and Ecological Remediation Method Model for Petrol-Contaminated Soil and Testing Its Field Applicability

Project Coordinator :  Prof.Dr.Orhan İnce (Istanbul Technical University)

Investigators:
Prof.Dr.Bahar İnce (Bogazici University)
Prof.Dr.Sevcan Aydın (Istanbul University)
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Ulaş Tezel (Bogazici University)
Aslıhan Başak Dağ (Istanbul Technical University)
Firdevs Ceylan (Istanbul Technical University)
Aslınur Çalışıyor (Bogazici University)

Petroleum and its derivatives pose a serious threat to environmental and human health as a result of accidents occurring during production, transportation, and storage. The persistent and toxic nature of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) creates risks for all organisms in the affected environment. Especially in soil ecosystems, petroleum pollution can lead to contamination of groundwater, presenting a worrying situation for human health. The remediation of PH-contaminated soil is a challenging, costly, and time-consuming process due to limited bioavailability for microorganisms caused by the low water solubility of PH. Traditionally, physical and chemical methods have been used; however, in recent years, cost-effective and environmentally friendly in-situ bioremediation methods, particularly focusing on increasing PH solubility using surfactants, have garnered attention. This approach has the potential to enhance microbial sustainability and diversity by supporting mutation and horizontal gene transfer at low inhibitory concentrations, despite surfactants exhibiting inhibitory properties to microorganisms.The primary objective of the project is to develop a fully biological remediation method that is economic, environmentally friendly, and free from secondary pollutants by determining the role of horizontal gene transfer between microorganisms and mobile genetic elements in the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) using surfactants. In the experiments, microbial communities enriched with surfactants are expected to facilitate PH degradation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Throughout the experiments, the amount of PH in both the solid and liquid phases will be continuously monitored. After incubation, microorganisms and degrading genes playing a key role in PH degradation will be identified using long-read sequencing technology. Through sequencing analysis, the relationship between the genes involved in biodegradation and mobile genetic elements will be revealed, and the most efficient genes will be trapped with plasmids to test field applicability. The outputs of the project will provide scientific infrastructure for low-cost, environmentally friendly, and rapid petroleum degradation by offering customized remediation methods to waste management organizations and the petroleum industry, depending on the age of contamination and the PH profile. The project will contribute new knowledge to the literature on the molecular role of surfactants in petroleum degradation and the dynamics of mobile genetic elements.