Screening and Isolation of Gasoline Degrading Bacteria by Enrichment Technique

Gasoline a, major petroleum hydrocarbon used frequently in automobiles is a complex mixture of aliphatic, aromatic and allicyclic hydrocarbons. The general population is exposed to gasoline or gasoline vapors during automobile refueling procedures, refueling of gasoline-powered equipment and using the gasoline-contaminated surface water or groundwater. Biodegradation of gasoline holds a promising approach for handling the problems due to gasoline pollution. In the present study the soil samples from the regions around petrol stations and petroleum refinery industry located at Mangalore, Karnataka, India were collected and subjected to screening by enriclnnent technique. Two Gram-negative bacilli Cl and C3 were isolated from the soil samples of petrol filling stations. The gasoline biodegradation was confirmed by the gas chromatography technique. Both the organisms showed significant reduction in the peak area as compared to that of control. Both the organisms showed a good adherence to hydrocarbons.