Metabolic Potentials of Isolated Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria

Industry and the scientific community is increasing becoming aware of the huge potential of bacteria in ameliorating petroleum contamination in various ecosystems and matrices. In this work we present a bench work on five bacteria isolates; consider their metabolic efficiency with respect to breaking down (mineralization) hydrocarbons (Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene). The research also focused on assessing the biodegradative versatility of the isolates along the following (a) Optical Density (OD 600 nm), (b) floating abilities of the isolates, (c) emulsification (E 24) indices and (d) Gas Chromatography (GC) profiles. The isolates showed robust growth (high OD values), produced emulsans and reduce the hydrocarbon substrates considerably as revealed in the percent area report values over the time frame compared to the control (abiotic). The results from the GC profiles analysis revealed that all the isolates show a very drastic reduction in the hydrocarbon substrates are compared to the controls that were set up and that nutrients supplementation play a key role in the results obtained.