Application of Plant Residues and Biosurfactants: A Cost Effective Strategies for the Bioremediation of Spent Motor Oil Contaminated Soil

A simple and cost-effective bioremediation strategy for the clean-up of a polluted Egyptian sandy soil was developed. Non-sterile bagasse with NP fertilizer and soybean meal without NP fertilizer were promising and cost-effective treatments for the development of higher counts of THB and HDM, which led to enhanced biodegradation of the spent motor oil (60.13.1 % and 58.6 2.3 % respectively). Six bacterial isolates showed good growth in the presence of spent motor oil. They were identified as Arthrobacter sp (EM2), Bacillus subtilis (EM6), Bacillus sp (EM10), Corynebacterium sp (EM 14), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EM1) and Pseudomonas sp (EM19). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EM1) showed higher biodegradation activity (68.0 2.0 %), this was followed by Bacillus subtilis (60.3 3.4 %). The mixed culture of the six bacterial strains increased the biodegradation process to 76.3 3.2 % (w/w), this may represents a successful approach for the bioremediation of spent-motor oil polluted sites.