ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS BIODEGRADATION BY A Pseudomonas STRAIN

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain to tolerate and degrade aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons. P. aeruginosa IBB_Ct8 was isolated from a seawater sample using crude oil as the sole carbon source in a minimal medium. The bacterium was identified as P. aeruginosa based on its morphological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics. P. aeruginosa IBB_Ct8, which possesses alkB (870 bp) and rhlAB (216 bp) genes in its genome, showed a higher tolerance and degradation efficiency of the n-hexadecane, n-decane, cyclohexane, or paraffin oil, compared with the tolerance to n-hexane and its degradation. P. aeruginosa IBB_Ct8 cells produced rhamnolipid biosurfactants which showed a very good emulsification activity against the tested aliphatic hydrocarbons. Due to its characteristics, the isolated bacterium could be used in the bioremediation of petroleum-polluted environments.