The study of degradation ability of oil products and oil hydrocarbons by microscopic fungi ısolated from polluted coastal areas of Absheron Peninsula of Caspian Sea

Abstract

An ecological analysis (qualitative and quantitative) of the microscopic fungi was conducted in the coastal waters and soil samples of the Absheron Peninsula in the Caspian Sea. Among the seven (7) fungi genera isolated from the water the more common one appeared as the species of Penicillium genus which were detected in 58.3% of the total water samples. The frequently encountered strains belonged to the following genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Trichoderma, Cephalosporium and Fusarium. Fungi genera: such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor and Fusarium were actively utilizing crude oil, oil products (diesel, petrol, kerosene) and some aromatic hydrocarbons (benzol, toluene, p- and m- xylene) under laboratory conditions. The analyses were performed using gas-liquid chromatography, liquid adsorption chromatography, IR- and H-N.M.R. spectroscopies in determining the degradation of the oil products. It was discovered that the aromatic hydrocarbons under the influence of the microorganisms were transformed into phenol and corresponding acids.