Diesel oil and PCB-degrading psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from Antarctic seawaters (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea)

• Published in: Polar Research
• Main Authors: De Domenico, Maria, Lo Giudice, Angelina, Michaud, Luigi, Saitta, Marcello, Bruni, Vivia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 2004
• Subjects: Antarctic; Ross Sea; Terra Nova Bay; Antarc*; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2082; https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v23i2.6275

Fifty-seven Antarctic marine bacteria were examined for their ability to degrade commercial diesel oil as the sole organic substrate at both 4 °C and 20 °C. Based on the preliminary screening, two isolates (B11 and B15) with high capacity to degrade diesel oil were selected and their biodegradation effi ciency was quantifi ed by gas chromatographic analysis. As expected for psychrotrophs, diesel oil biodegradation was slower at 4 °C than at 20 °C. The two strains also mineralized the C28 n-paraffi n octacosane at 20 °C and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at 4 °C and 20 °C.