Biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by bacteria isolated from Bahregan area.

This article focuses on the biodegradation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons found in oil sludge from the Bahregan area, a Persian Gulf oil export terminal. Analysis revealed that the dominant hydrocarbons in the sludge are aliphatic compounds such as octadecane and hexadecane, and aromatic compounds including naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and anthracene. The study evaluated the biodegradation capabilities of native bacteria Thalassospira and Chromohalobacter, as well as a bacterial consortium isolated from the same environment. Results showed that Thalassospira can completely degrade octadecane and hexadecane, Chromohalobacter partially reduces hexadecane, while the bacterial consortium effectively degrades a broader range of hydrocarbons, including toluene and phenanthrene. The findings suggest that bacterial consortia offer a more comprehensive and efficient approach for bioremediation of mixed hydrocarbon pollutants in oil-contaminated environments.