Isolation, Characterization and Optimization of Indigenous Petrol Degrading Bacteria from Oil Contaminated Soil

Petroleum-derived products like petrol, containing complex hydrocarbons, have catastrophic environmental effects, posing a universal challenge. Bioremediation is known as eco-friendly and safe technique for removal of hydrocarbon pollutants. In this study, indigenous bacteria were isolated from oil contaminated soils and screened for their biodegradation potential. The bacterial enrichment and isolation were done using selective media Bushnell-Haas supplemented with petrol as a sole carbon source. Out of fifteen isolated strains best two isolates S4P2 and S14P1 were selected on basis of DCPIP screening method. These isolates were identified as Pseudomonas chengduensis & Pseudomonas donghuensis by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The growth parameters were optimized by one factor at a time. The optimum growth temperature for P.chengduensis & P. donghuensis was found to be 37°C at pH 7 with a substrate concentration of 1%.