Investigation of the quantity of Phenol degrading bacteria in oil-contaminated areas in Persian Gulf

Background and Aim : Fossil fuels, especially petroleum products, are used as the primary source of energy for industry and routine life around the world. Petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and oils have caused serious ecological concerns in modern society compared to other chemicals. However, through accidents, industrial and urban activities, sewage emissions, oil industry activities in the sea and coasts, and leaks that occur during exploration, production, transportation and fuel storage, petroleum products and derivatives release into the environment and cause petroleum hydro carbonic pollution. The degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, especially phenols, by native microbial activity is a significantly economic approach to rehabilitating phenol-contaminated sites.Methods : In this study, sampling of ۷ oil-contaminated areas in the Persian Gulf was performed. After determining the bacterial population, isolation and identification of bacteria were performed by MPN and CFU methods. After two weeks and during two stages of screening, E strain, which belongs to the Mango Forest area of Bushehr, and D strain, which belongs to the Qashka region, were identified and approved as the top and final Phenol degrading bacteria’s by biochemical and molecular methods.Results : These bacteria showed a high ability in removing phenol. The high ability of these strains in mixed cultures and with the help of nutrients makes it possible to use these strains at field level to rehabilitate phenol-infected sites. After constantly treatments, the top degrading colonies reduced the degradation time from ten days to two days, demonstrating the potential of bacteria’s to clear and remove phenol.Conclusion : Isolated bacteria showed high phenol removal ability. The abundance of bacteria in infected areas is high, and by identifying the genes and enzymes involved in the degradation, there is capability of genetic manipulation of these strains and the transition of active genes to other native bacteria in the region to facilitate and accelerate degradation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Phenol degrading bacteria ، biodegradation ، oil pollution ، Phenol