Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil

A laboratory study was undertaken to bioremediation crude oil contaminated soil by isolated strains. Pseudomonas strain A as the most superior indigenous biodegrader was selected. At the optimal growth condition of pH 7 and with 5 g/L NaCl, cosubstrate α-lactose, and inorganic salt FeSO4, 82.3% of crude oil degradation efficiency was obtained. Furthermore, characteristics of chemical composition during the biotreatment indicated that saturation hydrocarbons and some aromatics were effectively removed by strain A. N-alkane in crude oil was preferentially degraded, especially those in the range of nC16–nC24. Biodegradation of aromatics depended on benzene ring numbers and complexity of structures.