Effect of Glucose on the Growth of Filamentous Fungi in Jet Fuel

摘要

Filamentous fungi were isolated from jet fuel-contaminated soils subjected tosmall, repeated spills. The fungi were tested for their ability to grow in 1, 2, and 5% jet fuel (JP-4) and the same concentrations supplemented with 1% glucose. Growth (reported as dry weight) in fuel and fuel and glucose mixtures were compared to growth in 1% glucose. Significantly more growth by all isolates occurred in fuel and glucose mixtures than glucose alone. A single strain of Penicillium produced the best growth under all conditions and was used in experiments analyzing hydrocarbon degradation using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Penicillium was grown in 2 and 3% fuel alone and with supplemental glucose (1%) and the non-polar extracts examined to assess hydrocarbon degradation at 7 and 14 days. The addition of glucose tothe culture medium significantly accelerated fuel metabolism within 7 days. No detectable jet fuel hydrocarbons were present in extracts from cultures harvested at 14 days with or without supplemental glucose. We suggest the addition of glucose may enhance the growth of filamentous fungi in contaminated soils as well as accelerate bioremediation of fuel hydrocarbons and should be considered as an addition to other bioremediation treatments.