[Effect of shale kerogen oxidation products on biodegradation of petroleum and petroleum products in soil and water].

Effect of oxidation products of shale kerogen (high-molecular-weight acids with 6-22 carbon atoms) on biodegradation of oil and oil products in soil and water was studied. High-molecular-weight acids (HMWA) not only affected the layer of oil and/or oil products and dispersed it into small particles, but also stimulated growth of Rhodococcus erythropolis VKM AS-1339D, degraders of oil and oil products. Addition of 0.001-0.003% HMWA to a medium to be purified from oil products increased the extent of bacterial biodegradation by a factor of 1.1-5.0.