Articles

Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compound by Bacterial Cultures

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In the present study biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) compound Naphthalene by four bacterial cultures Bacillus subtilis PD6, Bacillussp. PD9, Enterobactersp. PD11 and Bacillussp. PD14 has been targeted. Biodegradation of Naphthalene by these four selected bacterial cultures was analysed by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) technique. HPLC analysis revealed biodegradation of naphthalene by all the four bacterial cultures within a span of six days. Highest biodegradation 78.1% has been shown by Bacillus subtilis PD6 while other bacterial cultures Bacillus sp. PD9 has shown 77.90%, Enterobacter sp. PD11 showed 74.4% and Bacillus sp. PD14 exhibited 73.5% biodegradation of naphthalene.

Biodegradation of Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Compounds by Bacterial Cultures

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In the present study biodegradation of alphatic hycarbon compounds by bacterial cultures has been targeted. Growth curves analysis of Bacillus subtilis PD6, Bacillus sp. PD9, Enterobacter sp. PD11 and Bacillus sp. PD14 during utilization of dodecane, hexadecane, octadecane, eicosane and tetracosane as a sole source of carbon for growth and energy was performed. During this study, the degradation of different aliphatic hydrocarbons was studied as a function of bacterial growth. The hydrocarbon degradation efficacy of different bacterial species (selected on the basis of preliminary screening studies) was determined by indirect method wherein, the change in COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) was determined after a specific time interval (0 day to 6th day). Presence of aliphatic hydrocarbon degradation capability in the selected four bacterial cultures was substantiated by the PCR amplification of alkB genetic loci in three out of four cultures. Successful amplification of alkB gene loci in Bacillus subtilis PD6, Bacillus sp. PD9 and Bacillus sp. PD14 indicated that, these cultures are potential aliphatic hydrocarbon degraders and possess required genetic arsenal for degradation of n-alkanes.