Hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms

Perry JJ. 1968. Substrate specificity in hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 34 27-36. 

Singer, M. E. Finnerty, W. R. (1984a). Genetics of hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms. In Petroleum Microbiology, ed. R. M. Atlas, pp. 299-354. New York Macmillan. 

Table 6. A partial list of hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms...

HUM-Bug Detector Kit, manufactured by Hammonds Fuel Additives, is a qualitative test that indicates that hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms are present. The test flask contains the fuel or water bottom sample to be tested, a hydrocarbon source, an aqueous phase with nutrients added and a color indicator. The test bottle is incubated at 25°C in the dark for 12 to 48 hours. A red or pink color indicates the presence of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms (Hammonds Companies Inc., 2002). 

In fuel systems containing water, certain microorganisms can survive. Typical species are the bacterial anaerobe Disulfovibrio and the fungal species Cladosporium resinae. These microorganisms are called hydrocarbon utilizing microbes and often referred to as HUM or HUM-bugs. They can initiate corrosion in fuel systems. 

These tritiated hydrocarbons, needed to study hydrocarbon utilization by microorganisms, have been prepared by simultaneous Kolbe electrolysis of mixtures of T-labelled... 

Yamada, K., S. Horiguchi, and J. Tatahashi, 1965. Studies on the utilization of hydrocarbons by microorganisms. Part VI. Screening of aromatic hydrocarbon-assimilating microorganisms and cumic acid formation from p cvmene.Agn c. Biol. Chem.. 29 943-948. 

Microorganisms readily able to degrade hydrocarbons were found in the Neuse River estuary in North Carolina. Although the estuary was relatively free of hydrocarbon contamination, 63% of the bacteria and 71% of the fungi isolated from surface water samples were able to utilize kerosene as the sole carbon source (Buckley et al. 1976). Weathered kerosene (volatile components were allowed to escape prior to testing) was spiked with four marker hydrocarbons, and the degradation of the markers was monitored. 

Aliphatic hydrocarbons include straight chain and branched structures. Industrial solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, and the linear alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) are the primary sources of aliphatic hydrocarbon pollutants. Many microorganisms utilize aliphatic hydrocarbons as carbon sources. Long-chain -alkanes are utilized more slowly due to the low bioavailability that results from their extremely low solubility in water. In contrast, short-chain rc-alkanes show a higher aqueous solubility. 

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