Isolation and Screening of Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria from Petroleum Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Biosurfactants are a diverse and heterogeneous group of microbial metabolites synthesized by bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. Biosurfactant release the surface tension between the two substances. This study was aimed at production of biosurfactant by Bacillus subtilis and Soil from petroleum contaminated site was used to isolate Bacillus subtilis which was identified morphologically by Gram’s staining, biochemically by catalase, indole, and methyl red voges proskaeur test and molecularly using 16s rRNA. The bacteria was screened for the potential to produce biosurfactant using hemolysis test, drop collapse test, oil displacement test and emulsification index. The screened bacteria can be produced biosurfact using petrol as carbon source.