Biodegradation of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons by Bacteria Isolated from Khor Al-Zubair Channel, Southern Iraq

Four bacterial strains capable of using crude oil as the sole carbon source were isolated from Khor Al-Zubair channel, southern Iraq. The isolates were identified as Vibrio vulnificus ; Brevundimonas diminuta/vesicularis ; Ochrobactrum anthropic  and  Sphingomonas paucimobilis  by the Vitek II system. The bacteria grew aerobically in liquid culture containing four concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% v/v) of crude oil at 30ᵒC for a seven day period. The components of crude oil degraded by the isFolates were determined by capillary gas chromatography.  Vibrio vulnificus  was the most effective bacteria to degrade crude oil, especially in concentration 2% (93.05%). Meanwhile, Ochrobactrum anthropi  was the lowest (9.63%) in concentration 0.25%.