Potencial de microrganismos associados ao Maxixe-do-norte (Cucumis anguria) na biorremediação de solo contaminado com óleo lubrificante

Abstract

Contamination caused by used lubricating oil represents a serious problem for human and environmental health, as these compounds are toxic, persistent, and highly polluting. In this context, bioremediation emerges as a simple and low-cost strategy aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of pollutants. This study sought to identify endophytic bacteria associated with Cucumis anguria cultivated in soil contaminated with a mixture of used lubricating oil, as well as to evaluate their biodegradation potential. A total of 18 bacterial species were found, Gram-positive: Bacillus cereus/thurigiensis III, Bacillus cereus/thurigiensis IV, Bacillus mycoides, Micrococcus luteus, Priestia flex, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Bacillus pumilus, Paenibacillus apiarus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Brevibacterium casei and Gram-negative: Enterobacter hormaechei, Acinetobacter radioresistens, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella osloensis, and Enterobacter cloacae. Assays with lubricating oil indicated emulsification capacity and the ability to utilize hydrocarbons as the sole carbon source, in addition to the resistance of C. anguria to the contaminated environment. The results indicate that the endophytes associated with C. anguria show promising potential for application in the bioremediation of environments impacted by petroleum and its derivatives, representing a viable alternative for the treatment of soils contaminated by these pollutants.