Background: With increasing demands of fossil fuel energy, extensive exploration of natural sources has caused a number of large scale accidental spills of crude oil and resulted in environmental disasters. The consequence of oil pollution to environment and human health has brought a serious challenge to environmental scientists. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the biodegradation of petrolum compound by Bacillus subtilis isolated from automobile workshops. Methods: Soil samples were collected from petrol bunks and workshops and subjected to serial dilution and plating. From the developed bacterial colonies, one was selected and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on the biochemical tests. The isolated strain was able to grow in minimal broth along with 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% concentrations of petrol which indicated the capability of the organism in degrading petrol and utilizing it as a source for growth. Results: The isolated strain's efficiency was determined by analysing the parameters pH, optical density and CO 2 released during petrol degradation. HPLC analysis also confirmed the degradation of petrol by Bacillus subtilis. Conclusion: The isolate Bacillus subtilis has the ability to tolerate the petrol concentrations and grow on them. Hence, this strain can be used in cleaning oil polluted sites.
Background: Oil spills are considered as one of the critical problems which cause a decline in environmental health. Currently the biological solutions have become more familiar to remove hazardous substances from the environment. Methods: Soil samples were collected from petrol bunks and automobile workshops at Madurai and used for the isolation of fungi. The isolated fungus was identified as Penicillium sp. using lacto phenol cotton blue staining method and cultural characteristics. The efficiency of the fungal strain on the degradation of different concentrations of petrol was studied using 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% of petrol in minimal medium. Results: The parameters, pH, optical density and CO released were determined. HPLC analysis exhibited a difference in the pattern of peaks between control and the 2 treated sample confirming petrol degradation. Conclusion: The ability of Penicillium sp. to tolerate oil pollutants and grow on them, suggest that it can be employed as bioremediation agent and can be used in restoring the ecosystem when contaminated by oil.
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