Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by fungi strains of Aspergillus sp.-17, Rhizopus sp.-81, Penicillium sp.-94 isolated from oil-contaminated soils of Azerbaijan

İnstitute of Microbiology of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Az 1004, Azerbaijan

^* Corresponding author: aqil.ahmedli99@gmail.com

Abstract

Environmental security and biocentric lifestyles are the approaches that today’s man must follow and choose, which cause major environmental problems in modern times and threaten the existence of civilization in the future. The soil ecosystem, which is one of the polluted environments, is polluted naturally and anthropogenically because of oil extraction, transportation and accidents that occurred during this time. Undoubtedly, with the constant increase in the need for oil, land recultivation becomes more urgent than ever for the modern era. Although physical, chemical, and biological solutions are proposed for the recultivation of oil-contaminated soil from oil and oil products in modern times, bioremediation is a more favorable, less capital-intensive, environmentally friendly technology from an ecological and economic point of view. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to determine the ability of micromycetes to biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons and to determine the advantages of bioremediation of lightly and moderately polluted soils with oil using Aspergillus sp.-17. Rhizopus sp.-81, Penicillium sp.-94 fungal strains with high lipolytic activity. It also mentioned tolerance of oil to different hardnesses.