Screening of a thermophilic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial group and bioremediation of petroleum polluted soil

A thermophilic oil-degrading bacterial group, named KL6-3 was screened by means of enrichment culture from soil contaminated by heavy oil from Karamay of Xinjiang Oilfield. Its oil degradation rate was up to 48.6% at 45°C and oil concentration of 10g·L^-1(data not reported). To evaluate biodegradation to petroleum polluted soil of the KL6-3, the soil samples collected from Karamay supplemented with the KL6-3 group were incubated for 90 days at 45°C. The physicochemical quality, microorganism quantity and hydrocarbon component of the oil polluted soil were studied. The results showed that the presence of KL6-3 group could enhance the degradation of crude oil. The petroleum hydrocarbon was mainly degraded by microorganism. The saturates and aromatics were easy to be degraded and the resin and asphaltene were hard to be degraded. The microorganism quantity was increased significantly with manual composting.