Isolation and characterization of bacterial isolate’s from PAH contaminated soil

Screening of polyaromatic hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms from oil contaminated soil was studied and the samples were obtained from nearly ten different sites like mechanical workshop, petrol pumps, coal depots, coal tar, washing centres, bus depot. The microorganisms were isolated using streak plate method after selective enrichment techniques. All sample were cultured in Minimal Salt Media with no external carbon sources. The enriched sample were cultured onto nutrient agar plates to isolate the hydrocarbon utilizers from the collected sample. Nearly 20 different isolates were selected and were further identified based on their morphological, biochemical characteristics and on molecular basis. The isolated strains according to biochemical tests belong to the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Yersinia and Shigella. The ability of organism to survive is associated with the ability of the organisms to use the hydrocarbons in polluted soil which is of importance in bioremediation of oil spills, hydrocarbon pollution of soil.