ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBON DEGRADING BACTERIA FROM SOIL

Ten aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were isolated from petrol contaminated petrol pump sites in the Parbhani district. Based on a high growth rate on hydrocarbon degradation ability, three strains were selected from the ten isolated strains for further study. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that these isolated strains belonged to genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, & Staphylococcus. Among the three isolates, Pseudomonas strain was the most effective in degrading petrol. The results obtained in this study were indicates that Pseudomonas strain could degrade a wide range of hydrocarbons as well as some recalcitrant hydrocarbon components, and can be applied for bioremediation process.