title: Occurrence of crude oil degrading bacteria in gasoline and diesel station soils.
abstract: Microbial enumeration and identification were carried out on several oil contaminated soil samples collected from gasoline and diesel stations. Bacteria were the most dominant microbiota and were therefore classified to generic level. Eleven main genera were detected and Corynebacterium was the predominant genus in all the samples. Biochemical characterisation and substrate utilisation showed high percentage of lipolytic ability combined with high inorganic nitrogen utilisers. The ability of these cultures to degrade crude oil was tested individually and in mixed bacterial consortium at different temperatures and pH values. Maximum crude oil biodegradation of 78% was achieved using a bacterial consortium containing five cultures (Micrococcus sp. GS2-22, Corynebacterium sp. GS5-66, Flavobacterium sp. DS5-73, Bacillus sp. DS6-86 and Pseudomonas sp. DS10-129) with 1% crude oil at 30 degrees C and pH 7.5. Such a consortium may be useful for bioaugmentation of oil contaminated environments.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Group, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland - BT52 1SA. ksmrahman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kaja Sheik Mujibur
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Thahira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Perumalsamy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lakshmanaperumalsamy
authors.forename: Ibrahim M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Banat
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005648:Fuel Oils; D005742:Gasoline; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005648:Fuel Oils; D005742:Gasoline; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants