Isolation and identification of a low temperature hydrocarbon-degrading strain and its degradation characteristics

A low-temperature hydrocarbon-degrading strain T7-2 was isolated from sea-mud of Bohai polluted area and identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis, which could use diesel oil as carbon source. The optimal temperature and pH for the strain utilizing ethanol was 15°C and 7.8, and the optimal concentration of ethanol and the seed culture was 0.5% and 10 CFU/mL, respectively. Inoculated to artificial seawater which was added (NH4)2SO4 2.64 g/L, Na2 HPO4 2.5 g/L and yeast extract 0.015 g/L after 7 days of culture at the temperature of 15°C, the rate of degradation was 73.2%.The strain could degrade a large range of n-alkane from C12 to C36.