Cell-surface hydrophobicity and emulsification of a hydrocarbon-degrading strain

Abstract:

[Objective] A hydrocarbon-degrading strain HL-6 was isolated from oil contaminated soil of Xinjiang Oil Field and identified as Rhodococcus sp., which could use hydrocarbon as sole carbon source to produce biosurfactant. The bacterial cell hydrophobicity and biosurfactant production were studied. [Methods] Through cell adhesion, surface tension and emulsifying activity, the biosurfactant was studied. [Results] The strain could produce biosurfactant in both hydrophilic and hydrophobicsubstrate. The surface tension was reduced from the initial 62.487 mN/m to 30.667 mN/m when substrate was hydrophobic. Diesel could be well emulsified by strain HL-6 and the emulsion toleratedsalinity, alkaliand temperature. In addition, strain HL-6 could grow well in medium containing 30% of diesel and had 44% emulsification. [Conclusion] Strain HL-6 had a strong cell-surface hydrophobicity, which contributed to uptake hydrocarbons. This strain could use hydrocarbon to produce biosurfactant, significantly reduce the culture surface tension and had good emulsification of petroleum hydrocarbons. So strain HL-6 was able to adapt to the environment of the marine shoals oil pollution, especially serious oil pollution.