The research project is aimed at the isolation and tropho-functional characterization of microbial (bacterial and/or fungal) strains endowed with high degradative capacity against various compounds in hydrocarbons, including:

• Aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons;

• Aromatic compounds, polycyclic aromatics (PAHs) and aromatic heterocyclics.

The selected strains are distinguished by a remarkable biosurfactant biosynthetic capacity, even under psychrophilic (low temperature) conditions.

The characterized microbial isolates will later be used in the formulation of a specific bioactivator intended for massive inoculation interventions for biological remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated environmental matrices, with particular efficacy in low-temperature climatic settings.