Isolation, characterization and examination of some features of bacteria that biodegrade hydrocarbons derived from petroleum in areas contaminated with industrial waste

In this study, the soil samples were taken from the contaminated areas with industrial waste including petroleum and its derivatives from around the tire factory in Kırşehir, chrome factory in Mersin and Kazanlı, and Karaduvar refinery regions in Mersin. A total of 40 bacteria were isolated from soil samples. The isolates were identified with molecular diagnostic method as well as morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. Based on the results of 16S rRNA sequence analysis, it was found out that the isolates belonged to the Bacillus, Diaphorobacter, Cupriavidus, Acinetobacter, Massilia, Staphyloccoccus and Azospirillum genera. Antibiotic resistance and total antibiotic resistance percentage of the isolates were determined. The percentage of total antibiotic resistance was determined as the highest 82,5 % Tetracycline and the lowest 15% Imipenem. Again, heavy metal resistances of isolates were determined and the highest heavy metal resistance was observed in both 5 mM and 20 mM manganese concentrations. Additionally, in order to determine biosurfactant production abilities of isolates, ''Drop Collapse'' method was applied and it was determined that 29 isolates have biosurfactant producing ability. As a result, in this study, different bacterial species degrading polyaromatic hydrocarbon, resisting against antibiotics with heavy metals and producing biosurfactant from the contaminated areas with industrial wastes including petroleum and petroleum derivatives were acquired. It is thought that usage of species with aforementioned features in bioremediation studies will contribute to the improvement of the balance of ecosystem.