Screening and characterization of petroleum-degrading bacterium

Abstract

Petroleum-degrading bacterium JY6 was isolated from petroleum-contaminated soils in DaQing oil field. It was identified as Bacillus cereus based on its morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and analysis of its 16SrRNA gene. Biodegradation function of petroleum and oil degradation rates were studied, including different pH value, culture temperature, oxygen etc. Results show the optimum pH value and inoculation was 7.0 and 0.1% (v/v), respectively. 40 ml of liquid medium in 250 ml flask, shaking at 150 r/min and 32°C, petroleum-degrading rate was 75 to 77%. The petroleum-degrading bacterium might be a useful resource for bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils and biotreatment of oil wastewater.

Key words: Petroleum-degrading bacterium, screening, Bacillus cereus, bioremediation.