Molecular characterization of biosurfactant-producing bacteria from a crude oil polluted soil in Nigeria

Most biosurfactant-producing microorganisms are hydrocarbon degraders. The research was conducted to isolate and characterize biosurfactant-producing bacteria from a crude oil polluted soil in Nigeria. Biosurfactant-producing bacteria were isolated from crude oil-polluted soil. Crude oil-polluted soil was collected by random sampling and its physicochemical analysis was done. Bacteria were isolated from the contaminated soil and screened for biosurfactant production. Organisms that showed the ability to produce biosurfactant were identified using morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. The physicochemical parameters of the soil showed a pH 6.9, electrical conductivity of 71.5, 2.55% carbon, 2.016% nitrogen and 5.98% phosphorus. The values of biosurfactant tests showed that organisms S2 and S13 were positive for biosurfactant production. The percentage emulsion indexes of the two selected organisms S2 and S13 were 59.09% and 57.14% respectively. The Blast analysis from the molecular identification showed that the isolated organisms were Gordonia alkanivorans for S2 and Tsukamurella inochensis for S13. This research showed that the isolated biosurfactant-producing bacteria are abundant in the crude oil polluted soil.