Diesel uptake by an indigenous microbial consortium isolated from sediments of the Southern Gulf of Mexico: Emulsion characterisation

In this study a microbial consortium, dominated by members of the genera Marinobacter and Alcanivorax (Gammaproteobacteria) isolated from marine sediments of Southern Gulf of Mexico, was assessed to grow in a bubble column bioreactor using 13 g L−1 of diesel (aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons mix including nonane and hexadecane) as the sole carbon source. The consortium was able to produce 3.3 g L−1 of biomass, measured as suspended solids. Microbial growth was detectable, even substrate depletion, after 8 days of cultivation. The emulsifier activity and its influence on the droplet size were also evaluated: it was observed that droplet diameter decreases as emulsifier activity increases. The bubble column bioreactor system proposed in this research could be used as a biotechnological process for the remediation of a contaminated body in important petrochemical regions, for example, Veracruz, México, where some points of sea and fresh-water bodies were analysed to find nonane and hexadecane in all sample water. It is important due to a lack of information, regarding hydrocarbon pollution in this port area, is filled. [Display omitted] •An indigenous microbial consortium from Gulf of Mexico was isolated and identified.•Nonane and hexadecane were found in sea and fresh-water bodies as pollutants.•The consortium was able to growth using 13 g L−1 of diesel as the only carbon source.•Emulsion produced by the consortium reached 6.5 EU mL−1 and droplet size of 600 nm.•A bubble column bioreactor system is proposed for hydrocarbons bioremediation. A bubble column bioreactor system is proposed for hydrocarbons bioremediation using an indigenous microbial consortium isolated from Gulf of Mexico.