Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants by halophilic bacteria and archaea species

In this study, halophilic microorganisms are isolated which are different halophilic parts of Turkey. The molecular identifications of 12 strains isolated are obtained by the analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. As a result of this identification, it is determined that 1 of the strains is Halomonas aquamarina, 6 of them are Halobacillus trueperi, 1 of them is Thalassobacillus devorans, 3 of them are Halobacterium salinarium and 1 of them is Halobacterium halobium. The toxic effects of benzen, toluene and xylene (BTX) petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants, provoking environmental pollution, on isolated species of halophilic bacteria and archaea and BTX hydrocarbons biodegradation capability are investigated. In this context; by testing benzene, toluene and xylene at different concentrations on the strains, their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) are detected. NB8 and NB 11 strains which are hophilic bacteria are showed resistant to %5 concentration above hydrocarbons. The biodegradation studies are practised on the basis of the MIC values obtained. It is seen that the best biodegradation result is obtained from Halobacillus trueperi NB8 among the strains used in the study. However, it is found out that the extreme halophilic species of arcaea, H.salinarium NB20, 21, 28 and H.halobium NB22, do not have ability to biodegrade BTX components.