Microbial enrichment-based bioremediation of petroleum refinery wastewater- enhanced effluent quality assessment by phytotoxicity studies

The degradation and toxicity reduction of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater (PRW) remains a significant global environmental challenge, with limited research exploring the synergistic potential of microbial consortium for enhancing bioremediation efficiency. This study evaluates the biodegradation of PRW using Ochrobactrum anthropi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both individually and in a 1:1 bacterial consortium, through physicochemical analyses and phytotoxicity assays using Vigna radiata. The bacterial consortium demonstrated the highest bioremediation potential, achieving 95% degradation in 14-days, compared to 87% and 83% by O. anthropi and P. aeruginosa, respectively, over a 21-day cycle. Similarly, phenol degradation by the bacterial consortium reached 80% within 14-days, outperforming O. anthropi (77%) and P. aeruginosa (75%) at 21-days. Phytotoxicity tests revealed that the bacterial consortium treatment effectively reduced effluent toxicity, making it a promising approach for efficient PRW remediation within a shorter timeframe. This study underscores the potential impact of microbial consortium in addressing industrial wastewater challenges.