Biodegradation of diesel by bacteria isolated from Scirpus mucronatus rhizosphere in diesel-contaminated sand

The biodegradation of diesel fuel in liquid medium by pure bacterial cultures was analyzed. The bacteria were isolated from rhizophere of Scirpus mucronatus grown at diesel contaminated soil. The pure rhizobacteria, identified as Basillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis, have demonstrated efficiency in diesel degradation when cultivated during five days with diesel concentration of 40% (v/v). Three pure bacteria have an excellent diesel degradation capacity, with Bacillus licheniformis, Basillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis reducing 25%, 5.9%, and 5.4% of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), respectively. The results indicate that Bacillus licheniformis has potential to be applied in bioremediation of diesel contaminated soil.