Screening and isolation of some phenol-degrading bacteria from petroleum-contaminated soils

This study was conducted to identify 16S rDNA in the superior phenol-degrading bacteria for phenol bioremediation purposes. Two strains were selected as superior ones with higher phenolase activity and investigated in culture media with different pHs, temperatures, and carbon and nitrogen sources. The first strain removed 100% phenol in the medium contained 0.3 g/L phenol as carbon source, 0.2 % peptone and ammonium chloride as nitrogen source after 24 h, at 35 ºC in pH 7. While the second strain removed 100% phenol in the medium contained 1 % sucrose, 0.3 g/L phenol as carbon source, 0.2 % yeast extract and ammonium chloride as nitrogen source after 24 h, at 30 ºC in pH 7. The results of sequencing and alignment of 16S rDNA sequence revealed that the first strain belongs to Aneurinibacillus migulanus and the second one to Paenarthrobacter nitroguajacolicus. Overall, the two selected strains from the research could be considered as an appropriate candidate in phenol bioremediation purposes.