Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession

This study evaluated the effects of three commercial dispersants (Finasol OSR 52, Slickgone NS, Superdispersant 25) and biosurfactants (rhamnolipid, trehalolipid, sophorolipid) in crude-oil seawater microcosms. We analysed crucial early bacterial response (1 3 days). In contrast, most analyses miss this key period instead focus on later time points after oil dispersant addition. By focusing stage, we show that biosurfactants, which reduce interfacial surface tension water, significantly increase abundance hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, rate hydrocarbon biodegradation, within 24 h. A succession obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB), driven by metabolite niche partitioning, is demonstrated. Importantly, has revealed how OHCB Oleispira, hitherto considered to be a psychrophile, can dominate stages oil-spill days), outcompeting all other OHCB, at relatively high temperature 16 °C. Additionally, demonstrate some or select for specific genera, especially biosurfactant rhamnolipid, appears provide an advantageous compatibility with Pseudomonas, genus species synthesize rhamnolipid presence hydrocarbons.