ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF CRUDE OIL DEGRADING BACTERIA FROM CRUDE OIL CONTAMINATED AREAS
S. P. GOPIKA LAKSHMI *
Department of Zoology, Sree Narayana College, Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kerala, Pincode 688582, India and Affiliated to University of Kerala, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Pincode 695034, India.
V. RESHMI
Department of Zoology, Sree Narayana College, Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kerala, Pincode 688582, India and Affiliated to University of Kerala, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Pincode 695034, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study aimed to isolate, identify and characterize oil-degrading microbes from oil-contaminated sites. In this study, 26 bacterial strains were isolated from crude oil-contaminated sites and identified by using morphological, biochemical and molecular analysis by DNA gene sequencing. Their ability to biodegrade crude oil was determined by screening for bio-surfactant activity and by employing well diffusion assays. From these 26 strains, 3 bacterial isolates proved to be able to degrade all the 4 crude oil components (petrol, diesel, kerosene, engine oil). The isolates were subjected to morphological and biochemical characterisation, optimization for pH and temperature and PCR and DNA sequence analysis for identification. Based on biochemical and molecular characterization, these isolates were identified as Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes and P. fluorescens.
Keywords: Bioremediation, biosurfactant, oil degrading bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas fluorescens.