Evaluation of crude oil biodegradation by Alcanivorax dieselolei, an isolated strain from the coastal sediments of Persian Gulf

Oil pollutions are one of the major problems threatening environment. Biodegradation using hydrocarbon-degrading indigenous bacteria is considered as a convenient method both economically and environmentally. The genus Alcanivorax is known as a petroleum hydrocarbon degrader in petroleum-contaminated marine environments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity of Alcanivorax dieselolei, isolated from the coastal sediments of Persian Gulf for crude oil biodegradation.

In this applied-fundamental study, first oil degrading bacteria were isolated from the coastal sediments of Persian Gulf and were enriched in media. The isolated bacterium was identified using molecular identification based on 16S rRNA sequence. The oil degrading ability of the isolates was assessed using various concentrations of crude oil.

Based on molecular approaches the isolated bacterium was identified as Alcanivorax dieselolei. This bacterium was able to disintegrate oil droplets stably in less than one minute. Results showed that the biodegradation rates at 1, 2.5 and 5% concentrations of crude oil were 68.37, 67.97 and 13.2% respectively.

Since Alcanivorax genus is an indigenous bacterium in hydrocarbon polluted marine environments and its capability in biodegradation of crude oil has been proved, using this bacterium to remove oil pollutants is certainly possible.