Isolation and characterization of bacillus sp. as an oil degrading strain from contaminated soil

A study was conducted to isolate and identify the microorganisms for oil degradation abilities from oil contaminated sites. An oil-degrading bacterium isolated from petroleum contaminated soil collected from Manglam Petroleum, Mavli, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Bushnell Haas (BH) broth was used as the enrichment medium with 1% (v/v) oil to isolate oil degrading bacteria from a mixed population of microbes of soil samples. Isolate showed oil degradation abilities, only 2.5 ml oil was recovered out of 25 ml after seven days incubation period and there was a decrease in width of oil layer from 6mm to 2mm after seven days incubation. The isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. by various morphological, biochemical and physiological characterization tests based on Bergey’s Manual.