Deciphering the molecular interaction of extracellular polymeric substances of a marine bacterium Pseudomonas furukawaii PPS-19 with petroleum hydrocarbons and development of bioadsorbent

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2024-09, Vol.364, p.143023, Article 143023
• Main Authors: Vandana, Das, Surajit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; EPS-Hydrocarbon interaction; Extracellular polymeric substances; Petroleum hydrocarbon; Pseudomonas furukawaii PPS-19
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143023

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is a serious hazard to marine environments, affecting ecosystems and marine life. However, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of marine bacteria constituting various hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional groups sequester petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs). In this study, interaction of EPS of Pseudomonas furukawaii PPS-19 with PHs such as crude oil, n-dodecane, and pyrene and its impact on PHs adsorption was investigated. Protein component of EPS was increased after treatment with PHs. Red shift of UV–Vis spectra implied change in molecular structure of EPS. Functional groups of proteins (CO, NH2) and polysaccharides (C–C, C–OH, C–O–C) predominantly interacted with PHs. Interaction with PHs affected secondary structure of EPS. Change in binding energies of corresponding functionalities of C 1s, O 1s, and N 1s confirmed the interaction. Disruption of crystalline peaks led to increased pore size in EPS primarily due to the increase in surface electronegativity. Static quenching mechanism unveils formation of complex between fulvic acid of EPS and PHs. Relative expression of alg8 gene was significantly increased in the presence of n-dodecane (6.31 fold) (P