Isolation of diesel degrading microorganisms from hydrocarbon impacted soil in tropical environment

Abstract

Diesel contamination is common place in workshops and petrol stations which gradually accumulates in soil and diffuse into groundwater system. Bioremediation was found as economic extensive treatment to degrade diesel. The present study identifies the possible microorganisms and the best microbes which are capable of degrading diesel. Collected soil samples were cultured as stock culture and subsequently observed on agar prior to broth cultivation. The growth patterns were used to identify the best isolates that can degrade diesel. One fungal strain, Isolate A and three bacterial strains Isolate B, Isolate C and Isolate D were isolated and studied for biodegradation capability under fixed conditions. Based on Gram staining the isolates were identified as gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The morphological identifications were used to presume the possible microorganisms. The fungus was identified with specific features through lacto phenol cotton blue staining and comparison with well-characterized and identified fungi.