Biodegradation of Aromatic Compounds in Crude Oil by Isolated Microorganisms from Environment

Background and Objective: Oil pollutions are one of the most important environmental problems worldwide that researchers have tried different methods for its degradation. In this regards biological methods attracted the attention of the researchers more than other methods. The main objective of this study was to find microorganisms that could degrade aromatic components in the floating crude oil. Materials and Methods: In order to find such microorganisms, some samples were taken from areas contaminated by petroleum compounds. Microorganisms that could live with crude oil as sole carbon source were isolated. From these samples ۱۴ microorganisms isolated which all were bacteria. The variations of aromatic compounds concentration were measured by gas chromatography method. Results: Among ۱۴ microorganisms two microorganisms that called A-۳ and A-۱۴ had more ability and degraded the aromatic components ۸۹% and ۸۶% respectively. By microbiological techniques it was found that A-۱۴ is pseudomonas aerogenusa. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that biodegradation of aromatic compounds that are one of the must toxic materials in crude oil are possible. Also indicated that some oil-degrading microorganisms exist in the nature that do not need to adaptation for biodegradation of oily compounds.

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Key words: Aromatic Compounds , Crude Oil , Biodegradation , Pseudomonas Aerogenusa , Pure Culture.