An approach to the rapid control of oil spill bioremediation by bioluminescent method of intracellular ATP determination

Control of oil hydrocarbon biodegradation by enumeration of oil-degrading cells was demonstrated using the bioluminescence method of intracellular ATP determination. The method was used in enumerating hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria in soil containing various concentrations of oil (up to 60% oil w/w) and cells (2.7×104−3.9×107 cell g−1). Investigation of the growth kinetics of Rhodococcus ruber and Pseudomonas putida in the oil-contaminated soil revealed the dependence of specific growth rate on the initial pollutant concentration. The results of the bioluminescence method correlated with levels of oil biodegradation determined gravimetrically. The apparent synergistic effect demonstrated between two cultures was verified by the bioluminescence and gravimetric methods and growth kinetics data. The same approach was used to estimate the presence of indigenous microbiota in oil-contaminated soil samples taken from the oilfields of Baku region (Azerbaijan). The total ATP level detected revealed an inverse negative relationship with oil concentration in the sample. The bioluminescence method of intracellular ATP determination could be widely used to estimate the efficacy of application of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria in the decontamination processes.