Title: Classification of bacterial isolates of the Jordanian oil refinery petroleum sludge

Authors: Mohammed N. Battikhi, Bassam Mrayyan, Manar Atoum

Addresses: Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan. ' Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan. ' Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan

Abstract: The aim of this study is to characterise the bacterial isolates of Jordanian oil refinery sludge for the purpose of using microorganisms in treating industrial wastewater effluents that contains hydrocarbons. Morphological, physiological, biochemical, antimicrobial susceptibility tests and 16S-23S rRNA spacer region polymorphism were used to characterise the isolated thermotolerant Bacillus, with specific reference to Bacillus strains. Data were coded and analysed by numerical techniques using the Gower coefficients and by average linkage (UPGMA) analysis. The study resulted in allocation of strains into two areas at 50.0% similarity levels and ten major phenons at 78.0% similarity level. Amplification of 16S-32S rRNA genes divided all strains into two areas at 48.0% similarity level; however, at 78.0% similarity level five taxonomically distinct phenons were evident.

Keywords: petroleum sludge; thermotolerant Bacillus; numerical taxonomy; 16S-23S rRNA; biodegradation; bacterial isolates; Jordan; oil refineries; microorganisms; wastewater effluents; hydrocarbons; wastewater treatment; water pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.023667

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.36 No.4, pp.418 - 435

Published online: 07 Mar 2009 *

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