Isolation and Characterization of Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria and their Potential Role in Oil Biodegradation

The present study is focused on the isolation and characterization of biosurfactant producing strains and the evaluation of their potential role in oil biodegradation. Four strains (Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus petrasii, Bacillus flexus and Bacillus oceanisediminis) were selected on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The impact of oil biodegradation potential of bacterial strains at five mobil oil concentrations (1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%) was estimated at various temperatures, pH, and incubation time intervals and in the presence of inhibitors including SDS and Chromium. At 1% and 1.5% oil concentration strains showed maximum oil degradation however the degradation capacity was decreased with an increase in oil concentration. At lower oil concentration bacterial strains showed maximum degradation in acidic medium while at higher concentration degradation was decreased. Maximum oil degradation was observed at 37°C. When the incubation time was increased, a positive trend of biodegradation was observed however at high concentration, the biodegradation ability decrease. All strains showed higher degree of inhibition in the presence of inhibitors. It was concluded that bacterial strains can effectively be employed in biodegradation of mobil oil and helpful in bioremediation at oil drilling sites as well as in aquifers.