isolation and characterization of a biosurfactant producing pseudomonas and bacillus from hydrocarbon-contaminated site

A total of twenty four bacterial cultures were isolated from the marine water and sediment samples collected from the Mumbai site. OutofthemG.C -1,G.C-5andDKS-3wereselectedfor productionand,partialcharacterizationsofbiosurfactant.AGramnegativebacterium was identified as Pseudomonas sp., Gram positive bacteria were identified as Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp . by morphological, physiological and biochemical characterization. The Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. grew in sodium chloride (NaCl w/v) from 0.5 to 24% and Bacillus sp. grew at 20% NaCl Concentration indicated that these organisms were halophilic in nature. The production of a biosurfactant by these organisms was studied by oil displacement and oil spreading assay technique. Heavy metal tolerance for three isolates was performed.The heavy metals like cadmium chloride, lead, zinc dust, copper sulphate, mercuric chloride and cobalt chloride were used at 5 different concentrations. These bacteria showed metal tolerant activity against tested heavy metal. These findings further indicated that the isolate could be useful for bioremediation of hydrocarbon in ocean and sea in presence of heavy metals.