Thermophilic Bacteria Investigation in Petroleum Contaminated Soils by Different Isolation Method

Abstract

There are many and various microorganisms earth flora, ranging from macroscopic tomicroscopic forms. When soil ecosystem is contaminated by complex compounds and heavymetals, which are difficult to separate from each other, in petroleum and petroleum derivedproducts, for that reason it would be unable to utilization of soil due to decomposition of itsphysical, chemical and biological characteristics. Biological decomposition of petroleum andpetroleum derived products by natural microorganism populations, is the primary mechanismfor eliminating the petroleum and other hydrocarbon pollution of environment. The purpose ofthis study is to research the best isolation method on the isolation of thermophilic bacteria fromthe soils which are contaminated by petroleum and petroleum derived products. Recent studiesrelated to thermophilic bacteria have been intensified since these bacteria are more resistant toextreme environmental conditions than other bacteria species. With this purpose, 4 differentisolation methods have been investigated in isolating the thermophilic bacteria from thepetroleum contaminated soil which is contaminated by petroleum and petroleum products. Atthe end of the research, in order to identify bacteria colonies which are considered to be pure,DNA isolation, Conventional PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Process, Gel Electrophoresisprocesses are applied. Different incubation times, carbon resources and enrichment solutionsare tried out to obtain a superior method and it is revealed that with the increase in the incubationperiod, more known/unknown species can be isolated without using additional carbon sourcefrom the soil.