BIODEGRADATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON POLLUTANTS BY HALOPHILIC BACTERIA AND ARCHAEA STRAINS

Abstract

In the present study, a total of 8 halophilic bacteria were isolated from pollutants of different contaminated ports of Turkey, and 4 halophilic archaea were isolated from an uncontaminated part of Lake Tuz. As a result of the identification tests, 12 isolates were identified: Halobacillus trueperi (6 strains), Halobacterium salinarum (3 strains), Halomonas aquamarina (1 strain), Thalassobacillus devorans (1 strain), and Halobacterium halobium (1 strain). The capabilities in the biodegradation of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) hydrocarbons of the strains were investigated. The strains were tested for microbial growth in the presence of different concentrations of BTX pollutants (1% (v/v) to 5% (v/v)) as a sole carbon source. Halobacillus trueperi NB 8 and NB11 strains showed the highest resistance to hydrocarbons (5% (v/v)) in all tested strains. Although the isolated halophilic archaea strains showed a very low level of BTX hydrocarbons degradation ability, Halobacillus trueperi NB8 strains showed the highest capability for the biodegradation of BTX compounds.