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:
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Aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons;
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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.