HEAVY OIL DEGRADATION BY BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM OIL-CONTAMINATED SOIL SAMPLE

Author (s) : R.SELVABHARATHI, Dr. P.VENKATACHALAM

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Abstract :
The rapid increase in industrial activities and the widespread use of petroleum-based products have led to a significant rise in oil contamination incidents, resulting in environmental degradation and potential threats to human health. Bioremediation, which involves the use of microorganisms to degrade pollutants, has emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly approach to mitigate oil contamination. This study aimed to investigate the potential of bacteria isolated from an oil-contaminated soil sample in degrading heavy oil. The soil sample was collected from a petroleum refinery site known for long-term oil contamination. A total of 50 bacterial strains were isolated and screened for their ability to utilize heavy oil as the sole carbon source. The results demonstrated that certain bacterial isolates displayed high heavy oil degradation capabilities, with degradation rates reaching up to 75% over a 30-day incubation period. Moreover, the biodegradation process was observed to be influenced by factors such as temperature, pH, and nutrient availability, indicating the importance of optimizing environmental conditions for efficient bioremediation. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of indigenous bacteria isolated from oil-contaminated soil samples as effective agents for heavy oil biodegradation. The findings contribute to the understanding of microbial interactions with petroleum hydrocarbons and provide valuable insights for the development of bioremediation strategies to combat oil pollution. Harnessing the natural abilities of these bacterial strains offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to restore contaminated environments and mitigate the adverse impacts of oil spills on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Further research focusing on the application of these bacterial isolates in field-based remediation trials is warranted to assess their feasibility for large-scale implementation.

Keywords : Bioremediation, Biodegradationr, RNA gene sequencing

Conference Date : 13/11/2020

Pages : 255

Paper ID : 20255