Bacterial Reclamation Potential of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil

Crude oil is composed of several compounds, such as aliphatic, aromatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and also sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen-containing compounds. PAH compounds are toxic and can be carcinogenic. Oil waste management in oil refineries needs to be focused on diminishing waste and selecting suitable strategies in order to prevent soil damage for raising crops and other agricultural purposes. In this study, several bacterial isolates were collected from PAH contaminated soil and were cultured in the presence of kerosene, diesel and petrol. Only two bacterial sp. Rhodococcus and Staph aureus degraded kerosene and may be used to reclaim oil spills for agricultural soils.