Isolation and Selection of Crude Oil-Degrading Bacteria from Coastal Soil of Ko Samet, Rayong Province, Thailand
Keywords:
Crude oil-degrading, biosurfactants microorganisms, bioremediation, Ko Samet, RayongAbstract
Oil spill incidents along Thailand’s coastal areas, particularly in Rayong Province, have caused severe ecological and economic impacts. Bioremediation using indigenous microorganisms capable of degrading hydrocarbons offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cleanup methods. This study aimed to isolate and identify microorganisms from soils and sediments collected from three coastal sites around Ko Samet—Ao Phrao, Ao Tawan, and Ao Kluai Na Nok—and to evaluate their crude oil degradation potential. A total of 144 isolates were obtained and screened for oil-degrading activity using Bushnell-Haas Mineral Salt (BHMS) medium supplemented with 1% crude oil. Twenty-eight isolates exhibited crude oil degradation ability, with isolates 1ATIII 4, 1APII 6, and 2ATI 15 showing the highest performance, leaving only 0.0866 g, 0.0924 g, and 0.0965 g of residual oil, respectively. Biochemical profiling revealed diverse carbon source utilization patterns, which correlate with the potential production of biosurfactants and oil-degrading enzymes. The findings suggest that indigenous microorganisms from Ko Samet hold strong potential for the development of crude oil bioremediation technologies applicable at both laboratory and field scales
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