Isolation and Characterization of Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Oil Contaminated Soil

Abstract

This study investigates the physico-chemical properties of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil and the potential of isolated bacterial strains to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons. Soil samples were collected from Transport Nagar, Dehradun, and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon content, moisture, and bulk density, etc. The results indicated significant differences between contaminated and uncontaminated soil properties. Out of 20 isolates, five isolates (DHCS2, DHCS6, DHCS9, DHCS11, and DHCS17) were screened as hydrocarbon degraders by spectrophotometric technique using DCPIP indicator. The percentage of degradation of five isolates were found to be 15.5%, 10.5%, 9.85%, 37.5%, and 15.5% respectively. DHCS11 was found to have highest degradation percentage (37.5%). The isolate DHCS11 was identified as Acromobacter sp., could be a potential candidate for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These findings highlight the importance of microbial bioremediation in restoring contaminated soils.