Author(s)

Swarnakaran Hemalatha, Panchanathan VeeraManikandan

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Aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, hexane, toluene, naphthalene and xylene degrading bacteria such as Flavobacterium spp.1 & 2 and Pseudomonas spp.1 & 2 were isolated from petroleum contaminated soil samples. They were resistant to heavy metals such as lead, iron, zinc, cobalt and mercury. The optimum pH for hydrocarbon degradation by Flavobacterium spp.1 was 9. Flavobacterium spp.2, Pseudomonas spp.1 & 2 have shown optimum pH 7 for their degradation. The optimum temperature for hydrocarbon degradation by Flavobacterium spp.1 & 2 and Pseudomonas spp.1 & 2 were at 40°C & 45°C .

Aromatic hydrocarbon, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Heavy metals, Temperature

S. Hemalatha and P. VeeraManikandan, "Characterization of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Rading Bacteria from Petroleum Contaminated Sites," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 2 No. 3, 2011, pp. 243-254. doi: 10.4236/jep.2011.23028.