Effect of Glucopon 215 on cell surface properties of Pseudomonas stutzeri and diesel oil biodegradation

• Glucopon 215 can support the bioavailability of hydrophobic carbon sources.
• The Glucopon 215 caused an increase of diesel oil biodegradation.
• Increase biodegradation accompanied with decrease hydrophobicity and surface charge.
• Inhibitory effect of diesel oil biodegradation observed for fast degrader bacteria.

Alkyl polyglucosides are environmentally friendly surfactants. Due to their properties, such as non-toxicity and biodegradability, they are widely used in various fields. Therefore, there is high potential for their application in the bioremediation processes. The effect of Glucopon 215 on diesel oil biodegradation and cell surface modification of tested strain, Pseudomonas stutzeri strain 9 was studied. The research was also conducted to evaluate if the storage conditions may affect subsequent interactions with surfactants, such as alkyl polyglucosides. The addition of Glucopon 215 has positive effect on diesel oil removal only for the strain kept in standard conditions (two times) compared to the system without a surfactant. In the case of fast hydrocarbon degrading microorganism (P. stutzeri strain 9 stored with long contact with diesel oil), both the inhibitory effect of diesel oil biodegradation and the increase of the surfactant biodegradation were observed. Glucopon 215 modified the cell surface and the surface charge of tested strain depending on storage conditions. It was particularly visible in the diesel oil – surfactant systems.