Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas resistant to heavy metals and poly aromatics hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Persian Gulf sediments

Abstract

The Persian Gulf is the most strategic waterway in the world due to its importance in the global oil transportation. Heavy metals and poly aromatics hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most important pollutants in the Persian Gulf and other marine ecosystems. Our goal in this study is to isolate high resistant degrading species for copper and phenanthrene from Khur Mousa sediments (located in the North of the Persian Gulf, Iran). Among 10 bacterial species isolated from marine sediment, one strain
represented high potential to grow in medium supplemented with copper and phenanthrene. Isolated bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas sp. by biochemical tests. Over 70% of copper sorbed on Pseudomonas sp. within 150 min. In addition, about 96.52% of initial concentration of  phenanthrene was degraded during 120 h. Based on the capacity of isolate in degradation of phenanthrene and biosorption of copper, this species is introduced as an appropriate microorganism for bioremediation of contaminated environments.

Key words: Pseudomonas sp, bioremediation, biosorption, Persian Gulf, phenanthrene, copper.