A STUDY OF PHOTOTROPHIC MICROORGANISMS FROM OIL REFINERY WASTEWATER AND THEIR BIOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL

A.A. Dauletova; K. Bolatkhan; A.A. Kakimova; G.A. Akhmetova; А. Askar; D. Ozcimen; B.K. Zayadan

doi:10.26577/bb108320269

Authors

A.A. Dauletova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4471-9630 (unauthenticated)
K. Bolatkhan Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7133-6546 (unauthenticated)
A.A. Kakimova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5612-1002 (unauthenticated)
G.A. Akhmetova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5747-1557 (unauthenticated)
А. Askar Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1640-970X (unauthenticated)
D. Ozcimen Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2483-7617 (unauthenticated)
B.K. Zayadan Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4572-2416 (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26577/bb108320269

Keywords:

bioremediation, oil-containing wastewater, microalgae, cyanobacteria, petroleum hydrocarbons, biodegradation

Abstract

Wastewater from petroleum refining enterprises is characterized by a high content of toxic hydrocarbons that exert significant adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems.

The present study aimed to isolate and identify promising strains of microalgae and cyanobacteria from wastewater collected at the Atyrau Oil Refinery (five sampling sites) and technogenically contaminated areas of Caspi Bitum LLP (Aktau, samples M-13 and M-4) for their subsequent application in bioremediation processes.

A total of 25 cultures of phototrophic microorganisms were isolated from industrial samples. Based on their high growth rates and resistance to petroleum hydrocarbons, 10 of the most promising isolates were selected for further investigation. These included cyanobacteria (Anabaena sp., Nostoc sp., Phormidium sp., Oscillatoria sp., Synechococcus sp.), green microalgae (Chlorella sp., Tetradesmus sp., Desmodesmus sp., Pediastrum sp.), and diatoms (Navicula sp.).

During the preliminary screening, the optical density (OD) of the cultures increased from 0.15 to 0.95–1.85 within 14 days of cultivation. Experimental results showed that petroleum hydrocarbon removal efficiency varied from 31% to 88% after 10 days, depending on the wastewater concentration (25%, 50%, and 75%). The highest biodegradation efficiency was achieved at a wastewater concentration of 25%. Among the microalgae, Chlorella sp. and Tetradesmus sp. demonstrated the greatest potential, reducing petroleum hydrocarbon content by 88% and 84%, respectively. Among the cyanobacteria, Nostoc sp. exhibited the highest hydrocarbon degradation capacity, achieving a removal efficiency of 85%. High degradation efficiencies were also observed for Anabaena sp. and Phormidium sp., which removed 75% and 71% of petroleum hydrocarbons, respectively.

The obtained results indicate the high biotechnological potential of the isolated indigenous microalgal and cyanobacterial cultures for application in biological treatment systems for oil-contaminated industrial wastewater.

Author Biographies

A.A. Dauletova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Dauletova Aliyam – PhD student in the Department of biotechnology of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, email: dauletova.aliyam13@gmail.com)
K. Bolatkhan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Bolatkhan Kenzhegul – PhD, associate professor in the Department of biotechnology of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, e-mail: bkenzhegul23@gmail.com)
A.A. Kakimova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Kakimova Ardak – PhD, Senior Lecturer in the Department of biotechnology of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Associate Professor at the Kazakh National Research Technical University named after K. I. Satbayev (Almaty, Kazakhstan, email: ardakkakimova1@gmail.com)
G.A. Akhmetova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Akhmetova Gulnaz – PhD student, Senior Lecturer in the Department of biotechnology of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, email: gulnaz_akhmetova92@mail.ru)
А. Askar, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Askar Aidana - Master student in in the Department of biotechnology of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, email: aydana.askr.04@mail.ru)
D. Ozcimen, Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul, Turkey

Didem Ozcimen – Professor in Bioeingineering department, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty, Yıldız Technical University (Turkey, İstanbul, e-mail: didem.ozcimen@gmail.com)
B.K. Zayadan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Zayadan Bolatkhan (Corresponding author) – Doctor of Biological Sciences, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, professor of Biotechnology Department, director of the International Research Center “AlgaBioTech”in Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, email: zbolatkhan@gmail.com)