Exploiting bacterial isolates for diesel degrading potential under in vitro conditions

Hydrocarbon contaminated oil-spilled areas and oil-products have caused serious harm with increasing attention for development, implementation and removal of these contaminants. Bacterial diversity on succession at the petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated environment can give answer the problem. Such lands have serious problems as totally barren or with rare plantation. Bacteria can thereby be exploited for the mitigation of hydrocarbon to enhance the nutrient availability for vegetation. Present study involves collection of soil samples heavily contaminated with hydrocarbon from Bagru (Rajasthan). Samples were analysed by solid liquid extraction method followed by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis. During microbiological analysis hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were screened. FTIR spectral analysis indicated the presence of the functional group's alkanes and aromatic ringed compounds; 43% to 69% hydrocarbon content recorded by HPLC analysis of all the soil samples respectively. From the soil samples six gram-positive and four gram-negative bacterial isolates were explored possessing hydrocarbon degrading capacities in the range 47.04-87.31% and 10.12-95.24% respectively. Growth kinetic studies revealed the degradation up to 1000 ppm diesel in 3 days under in vitro conditions. These bacteria can further be exploited for diesel degradation and will certainly propose a possible solution to the prevailing issue for its biodegradation in ex-situ conditions after up scaling.