Investigation on Growth of Oil Degrading Thermophilic Bacteria Isolated from Hot Spring

Abstract

Oil spills are one of the key concerns of oil industry. The main distress of environmental specialists is the hazard to the marine ecosystem, caused due to offshore oil spills. In the present study the oil degrading potential of isolated bacteria on different media composition was carried out. From the study, it has been found that oil degrading thermophilic bacteria are capable of degrading soyabean oil, olive oil, tween 20, glycerol and crude petroleum oil. The culture of thermophilic was performed in thermus agar media and it was observed from the experimental study that the growth of thermophilic bacteria was moderately good at the range of 50oC to 60oC and 60oC to 70oC but declines after 70oC; no growth was observed in the range of 25oC to 50oC. It has also detected that the decaying capability of the thermophilic bacteria in Olive oil is initially better than soyabean oil during first six hours culture afterward its performance is better in soyabean oil than Olive oil. The present study is of special environmental significance as it can be efficiently used for bioremediation of oil polluted water.