Characterisation of Oil-Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Bilge Water

During an initial screening in samples of bilge water, four bacterial strains capable to oil degrade have been isolated. Two strains, named isolates BW-1 and BW-2, were clustered with Acinetobacter genus (a similarity of 100% and 99%, respectively) and two strains, named isolates BW-3 and BW-4 were related to Rhodococcus genus (a similarity of 99% and 98%, respectively). During growth (8?days) in M9 medium with Arabian Light Crude Oil (1%, w/v), measures of microbial abundance, surface tension, emulsification index (E ₂₄) and oil degradation, were carried out. During cultivation, isolates BW-1 and BW-2 are good biosurfactant producers and about 80% of crude oil is degraded. Also, isolates BW-3 and BW-4 show, during cultivation, production of biosurfactant but only 40% of total oil is degraded. Data obtained give important results in order to utilise these isolate native bilge waste microorganisms in the studies/process of bioremediation.