Crude oil degradation by phosphate-solubilizing bacteria

Abstract

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were isolated from tropical areas around the Indian peninsula. Two of the isolates showed high phosphatase activity. The isolates were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus pumilus, and they showed high adherence to undecane and hexadecane. The degradation of crude oil by these two isolates was 62% and 85%. Mixed cultures of the two isolates showed 91% degradation. It was evident from the gas chromatographic analysis that all fractions of crude oil were degraded. These isolates are promising candidates for the development of microbial consortia to be used in bioremediation strategies to combat oil degradation in the marine environment