S. DEKA
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - a bacterial species of different strains has isolated from petroleum- polluted soil of oil field situated at Moran (Assam). The Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, identified the species of the bacteria. In a laboratory-conducted experiment it was found that the bacterial strains has a great potentiality to degrade hydrocarbons of tank bottom sludge of Guwahati refinery. The experiment was carried out for four weeks in laboratory condition. It was revealed from the experiment that the degradation of hydrocarbons was increased gradually with increasing the incubation time of the bacteria. Degradation was found rapid after 7 days in all the strains and was found maximum at 28 days of incubation. However, after 21 days of incubation the rate of degradation was not rapid. It may be concluded that rate of degradation was found to be rapid up to a certain time period. After that, the rate of degradation was minimum. The Lowest degradation was occurred in strain no.1 (18.5%) and highest in strain no 3 (40.96%) at 28-day of inoculation.