Applied Microbiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Characterization and Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Oil Contaminated Soil

Chirag Simaria, Geetika Pant and Sibi G

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental pollutants and biodegradation using microorganisms is the preferred and major route of PAH removal from contaminated environments. This study investigated the bacterial degradation of petrol and diesel in liquid media that were isolated from oil contaminated soils by enrichment technique. The isolates could use petrol and diesel as their sole carbon and energy source in Bushnell Hass Mineral Salts (BHMS) medium at 2% (v/v) concentration. A total of eight isolates were selected and characterized by using a variety of phenotypic and morphologic properties. Two isolates each showed highest growth in petrol and diesel containing media during screening were selected and characterized using 16S RNA sequencing. Molecular identification of the isolates assigned them to Achromobacter sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The selected isolates degraded petrol and diesel up to 31.9% and 34.4% respectively. This study indicates that the contaminated soil samples contain a diverse population of PAH-degrading bacteria and the use of Achromobacter sp. and Pseduomonas aeruginosa has the potential for bioremediation of PAH contaminated sites.