Biodegradation of Petroleum Oil by a Novel Bacillus cereus Strain DRDU1 from an Automobile Engine

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Centre for Studies in Biotechnology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh-786004, India

Abstract

Contamination of soil and air due to hydrocarbon is a global issue and bioremediation provides
probably the best way to remediate the contaminants. The current study shows the biodegradation of crude
oil, diesel and used engine oil by a newly isolated Bacillus cereus strain DRDU1 from an automobile engine.
Hydrocarbon degrading strains were screened on BH (Bushnell and Haas broth) agar supplemented with 2%
(v/v) of used engine oil as sole carbon source. The strain was found to be degrading 77%, 67%, and 16% of
diesel, crude oil, and used engine oil respectively after 28 days under nitrogen and phosphorus stressed
condition. It was increased significantly up to 99%, 84% and 29% in presence of nitrate and phosphate
supplements. Degradation was confirmed both gravimetrically and by gas liquid chromatographic analysis.
The strain proves itself a stress tolerating bacteria by withstanding 7% of salinity, 37% of glucose concentration
and 52% of relative humidity. The thermal death point of the strain was found to be 86oC. The significance of
the study is that the percentage degradation of the complex petroleum supplements used in the study was
found to be far higher than some of the previously reported values.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 8, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
October 2014
Pages 1287-1294

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics