ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON DEGRADING INDIGENOUS BACTERIA FROM CONTAMINATED SITES OF VISAKHAPATNAM - See more at: http://www.journalijar.com/article/8334/isolation-and-characterization-of-petroleum-hydrocarbon-degrading-indigenous-bacteria-from-contaminated-sites-of-visakhapatnam/#sthash.x5OyCJOI.dpuf

The wide spread use of petroleum products leads to contamination of soil and aquatic environments, thereby poses a serious threat to all life forms counting humans. The ecology of hydrocarbon degradation by microbial populations in the natural environment is reviewed, emphasizing the physical, chemical, and biological factors that subsidize to the biodegradation of petroleum and individual hydrocarbons. Seventeen bacterial isolates able to grow on crude oil were isolated from various hydrocarbon-contaminated sites in Visakhapatnam. These samples were screened for bacterial oil degradation using 0.5% diesel in Bushnell-Hass Mineral Salt medium. The level of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation was determined by turbidometry and DCPIP methods at each 7 days interval. These organisms were studied to determine their biodegrading activities on hydrocarbons (diesel and petrol) as the sole carbon source using enrichment medium. Maximum utilization of hydrocarbons from crude oil was indicated by the total discoloration of DCPIP. Screening for bacteria utilizing crude oil as the sole source of carbon with 2, 6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) as redox indicator was carried out for all the selected isolates. Based on their capability to degrade hydrocarbons, six isolates were further selected to prepare a consortium which showed maximum utilization of hydrocarbons indicated by the total discoloration of DCPIP in just 90 hours. - See more at: