Abstracto

Screening and identification of biosurfactant (bioemulsifier) producing bacteria from crude oil contaminated sites of Gujarat, India

S. J. Varjani, D. P. Rana, S. Bateja, M. C. Sharma and V. N. Upasani

Sixty nine hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria isolated from selected crude oil contaminated sites of ONGC (Gujarat) were screened for biosurfactant producing potential. VSHUB005 showing 28.59 ± 0.50% emulsification index, 69.73 ± 0.53 mN/m surface tension and 90.46 ± 0.08% interfacial tension reduction was considered as potential biosurfactant producer using primary (hemolytic activity and CTAB agar plate method) secondary (drop collapse, oil spread, emulsification index and surface tension) and tertiary (interfacial tension) screening methods. Very strong, negative correlation between surface tension measurement and interfacial tension reduction (rs= -0.961, �? = -1.000) was measured. VSHUB005 was identified as P. aeruginosa by 16S rDNA gene sequencing technique. The GenBank accession number for 16S rDNA sequence and NCIM culture deposition ID assigned are KC713611 and 5514, respectively