SCREENING AND IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCING MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM OIL CONTAMINATED SOILS

Abstract

Biosurfactant are surface active compounds produced by microorganisms. These
molecules reduce surface tension between aqueous solutions and hydrocarbon
mixtures. Hundred hydrocarbon saturated soil samples were collected from thirty
different areas in Chennai, TamilNadu, India. Seventy two bacterial strains were
isolated and cultured by enriching carbon (Glycerol) source. Each culture medium was
screening to confirm the ability of biosurfactant production. These were conducted
using surface tension and emulsification activity methods. The result reveals that fifty
four strains of bacteria showed surface tension in the range between 0.026Nm-1 to
0.072Nm-1. The emulsifying capacity evaluated by the E24 emulsification index range
from 36-85% EA. Among 54 isolates, 9 isolates displayed highest activity after
detection with emulsification index method. They were identified for potent
biosurfactant production. These were conducted using series of screening methods.