Characterization of Biosurfactant From Pseudomonas Stutzeri SJ3 for Remediation of Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil

Abstract In the present work, production of biosurfactant was studied from the bacterial strains isolated from the soil samples collected from oil contaminated sites in Karaikal ONGC, Puducherry, India. Six morphologically different hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial strains (SJ1-SJ6) isolated on oil agar plates were further screened for biosurfactant production. Based on the screening methods results of 26 mm oil displacement zone, positive results of drop collapse test, 68.14% emulsification index (E24) and 79.2% of bacterial adherence percentage, the isolate SJ3 was selected as the most potent strain and it was identified as P. stutzeri using standard biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based methods. Optimization of the P. stutzeri strain showed 36 h incubation, 150 rpm agitation, pH 7.5, 37oC, 1% salinity, 2% glucose as carbon source and 1% yeast extract as nitrogen source were the ideal conditions for growth and the biosurfactant production was found to be growth dependent. The crude biosurfactant showed broad range of antibacterial activity against the bacterial pathogens tested. The P. stutzeri isolated from oil spill site showed biosurfactant with antibacterial activities.