Isolation and characterization of heterocyclic hydrocarbon degrading from mangrove environment

Heterocyclic hydrocarbon is a compound that can be found in the crude oil, creosote and shale oil. Mangrove swamp is region that can be easily polluted by the oil because oil production, transportation and also other human activities. The objectives of this study were isolate and characterize heterocyclic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria from mangrove environment. The bacteria were isolated by culturing on media containing heterocyclic hydrocarbon as sole carbon source. Soil samples obtained from mangrove swamp were used to inoculate minimal media to allow enrichment of bacteria with ability to degrade the heterocyclic hydrocarbon at the same time also allow to eliminate those bacteria cannot degrade heterocyclic hydrocarbon as well. Five different isolates were isolated from the mangrove environment and designated as strain W1, W2, W3, W4 and W5. Several biochemical tests were used to characterize bacteria had the ability to degrade the heterocyclic hydrocarbon. Biochemical test used to characterize bacteria were motility test, MRVP test, indole test, catalase test and citrate test. Degradation assessments were performed in double layer agar in order to test the ability of bacteria isolate to degrade different type of heterocyclic hydrocarbon. The salinity test also performed to test the ability of the bacteria to survive on different salt concentration. Successful isolation of bacteria can allow scientist use such bacteria for bioremediation application to clean areas which polluted by hydrocarbon source