Biodegradation of Petrol Using Aspergillus sp.
M. Vanishree
PG Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The American college, Madurai-625 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
A. J. Thatheyus *
PG and Research Department of Zoology, The American college, Madurai-625 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
D. Ramya
PG and Research Department of Zoology, The American college, Madurai-625 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Soil samples collected from petrol bunks and workshops in Madurai were subjected to serial dilution and the development of fungal colonies in PDA plates. One of the colonies were selected and identified as Aspergillus sp. based on staining and cultural characteristics. Efficiency of this fungus on the degradation of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% concentrations of petrol in minimal broth was studied for sixteen days. Decline in pH and increase in optical density and amount of CO2 released was noticed indicating the degradation of petrol by the fungus indirectly. It was also confirmed by the appearance of new peaks in HPLC analysis after sixteen days of treatment. Hence this strain can be used in cleaning oil polluted sites.
Keywords: Aspergillus sp, Petrol, HPLC analysis, Biodegradation