Isolation Of n-Paraffin And C-Heavy Oil-Degrading Bacteria

The isolation and identification of n-paraffin and C-heavy oil-degrading bacteria from five Japanese coastal areas were conducted in 1995. Eight isolates of n-paraffin degrading bacteria were selected from a total of seventy-five which showed well growth in n-paraffin medium. Rate of degradation was analyzed by gas chromatography. Short-chain n-paraffin (CD₁₃, C₁₄ and C₁₅) were degraded more effectively than the long chain n-paraffin (C₁₆, C₁₇ and C₁₈. Isolates NIWI and N16 have the highest degrading capacity. Degradation rate of n-paraffin increased with an increase of temperature from 10 to 300C. Four stage developments with stearyl alcohol as internal reference were found to effectively separate the C-heavy oil components (saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltene). Degrading capability of the eight selected isolates from 125 isolates of Cheavy oil-degrading bacteria was determined by TLC/FID. Isolate GR211 has the highest degradation activity. Two isolates of n-paraffin degrading bacteria were identified as Bacillus sp. (NJWI) and Micrococcus sp. (N16)- Vibrio sp. (GR211), Moraxella sp. (HI l) and Flavobacterium sp. (IS3) were identified as C-heavy oil-degrading bacteria.