The
partially purified surface-active agents produced by Phormidium biodisk contributed to enhance the removal potential
of this strain for hexadecane and diesel. In axenic cultures, the monospecific cyanobacterium Phormidium structured
in biodisks mats exhibited degradative capacity on hydrocarbons in the range of C10–C28 carbon atom number in
autotrophic conditions.
The photoautotrophic growth of the biodisks of Phormidium has been registered by the presence of
photosynthetically produced pigments markers, which partially are genre specific features, viz, phycocyanine,
phycoerythrin as well as zeaxanthin and other important carotenoids and chlorophylls. Moreover, photosynthetically
produced oxygen is believed played an important role in biodegradation of hexadecane and diesel oil. The obtained
results indicate, a high removal potential of Phormidium and an environmental safe alternative for mitigating oil
pollution seashores, by the joint action of photosynthetically produced exopolysaccharides type biosurfactants.