| abstract |
The invention relates to a biological method for reducing the content of hydrocarbons present in an aqueous medium comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons, containing at least one aliphatic alkane; at least one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH); and at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group formed by benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o -xylene, m -xylene, p -xylene and the combinations thereof, comprising placing said aqueous medium contaminated by said mixture of hydrocarbons in contact with a bacterial mixture comprising at least one bacterium that degrades an aliphatic alkane; at least one bacterium that degrades an HAP; and at least one bacterium that degrades said aromatic hydrocarbon. The method can include a chemical or photochemical treatment prior to the biological treatment of the contaminated aqueous medium. The invention also relates to bacteria that can degrade said hydrocarbons. |