Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated wastewater and biodiesel production using the oleaginous bacterium Rhodococcus opacus

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a unique class of ubiquitous semi-volatile organic contaminants, well-known for their persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic nature. In the present study, a hydrocarbonoclastic oleaginous bacterium Rhodococcus opacus, was investigated for its potential to simultaneous degrade naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene and fluoranthene as model PAHs, in single, multi-component and cocontaminated heavy metal system.