International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
ISSN: 2319-7692 Volume 1 Number 1 (2012) pp.12 -16

An experimental study for crude oil biodegradation in contaminated soil

1R.Gopinathan, 1M.Prakash and 2R.Bharathirajan

1Department of Microbiology, Kanchi Shri Krishna College of arts and Science, Kilambi,
Kancheepuram - 631 551, Tamilnadu, India.

2Department of Microbiology, Saudi Modern food factory, Jeddah - 21421,
Kingdom of Saudiarabia
*Corresponding author: mprakashmicro@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Petroleum forms a major source of raw material for many chemical products such as plastics, paints and cosmetics. It is also a source of energy for Industry and daily life.  When it is transported oil spills occur leading to oil pollution which causes serious problem in marine and soil environment.  So Biodegradation plays a vital role in removing oil spills. Different sources of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi degrade crude oil. Bacteria such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Cornyebacterium and fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma degrade a variety of hydrocarbons. In this present study oil degrading bacterial strains were isolated from Soil samples collected from the Oil spill near the drilling site. The isolates were identified as Pseudomonas sp.and Bacillus sp. with reference to Bergey’s manual of Determinative Bacteriology. The Gas chromatography analysis reveals that the petroleum fraction is subjected to biodegradation by oil degrading bacteria which paves way for biodegradation process.

Keywords : Crude oil; biodegradation; soil pollution and Gas chromatography.