Isolation and Characterization of Oil Degrading Bacteria from Soil Contaminated with Used Petroleum Products

Abstract

Certain petroleum products (such as crude oil, engine oil, diesel etc.) from appliances including generators, engines and automobiles can cause environmental pollution. It was hypothesized that oil rich environment could contain microbial communities that are specifically adapted to use hydrocarbons as sole source of energy for the metabolic activities. Therefore, this study was planned to isolate certain bacteria that have potential to use hydrocarbon for their growth and other metabolic activities. In this study, we had evaluated the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of soil that is contaminated with used petroleum products in Faisalabad Metropolitan area. Sampling soil sites include filling stations, automobile mechanic workshops, surroundings of power generators etc. Culture-able bacteria were isolated through serial dilution method using nutrient agar medium. For the isolation of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria, Bushnell Hass (BH) medium supplemented with different concentrations of hydrocarbons was used as sole carbon source. The plates were kept at 37 °C until visible colonies were formed. On the basis of colony characteristics and biochemical tests, bacterial isolates were identified. Out of 32, four bacterial isolates exhibited the growth in BH medium supplemented with different concentration of diesel and used engine oil as sole source of carbon.