Microbial metabolism of oil sludge: Isolation & characterization of Chrysene degrading Bacteria
Deepali Rajwade and P. K. Saluja
Department of Botany & Biotechnology, Govt. D.B. Girl’s College Raipur-492001 (India)
ABSTRACT
Oily sludge generated by oil refining industry is notified a hazardous waste and its management and safe disposal pose a major challenge for refineries. The objective of this study is to assess the ability of the technique of bioremediation to reduce hydrocarbon content of the oil sludge. Experiments were undertaken for remediation of sludge contaminated soil with indigenous micro flora. After 30 day period the oil sludge was analyzed gravimetrically for its oil content by Soxhlet Apparatus. The reduction in individual fractions like alkanes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and NSO was determined by silica gel column. Microbial isolates from the soil were tested for their sludge degrading capacity. Out of 9 isolates obtained in pure culture 4 were selected for further study based on their biosurfactant production and catechol dioxygenase enzyme activity. Morphological & biochemical characterization of the isolates was done for preliminary identification and on that basis the four isolates were identified as Pseudomonas sp., Mycobacterium sp., Flavobacter sp., and Rhodococcus sp. Isolates were grown on Mineral Salt’s Medium with chrysene as carbon source. The isolates were found to utilize chrysene and thus have potential to be utilized for bioremediation technology.