Total isoprenoid
aliphatic alkanes and polycyclic alkanes of sterane and triterpane
types were analyzed by GC–MS (Ilic, 2006). The most intensive
degradation of n-alkanes and isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes (in
paraffinic oil) and isoprenoids (in naphthenic oil) was observed
using the inorganic medium Kp in the light; the microbial conversion
is somewhat lower with Kp in the dark; with organic
medium Bh in the light the degradation is of low intensity; with
the same medium in the dark the degradation is hardly to be
seen. Steranes and triterpanes were not affected by microbial
degradation under the conditions used in our experiments.
Obviously, the petroleum biodegradation was restricted to
the acyclic aliphatics (n-alkanes and isoprenoids). Microbial
cultures isolated from studied environment, have degradable
effects dominantly involving petroleum hydocarbons. In the
light, petroleum microbiological degradation is more intensive
when inorganic medium is applied. It can be concluded that
the biodegradation of petroleum type pollutants, under describe
condition, will be restained to the n-alkane and isoprenoid degradation