Production of Rhamnolipids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa HB6 (39) Isolated from Petroleum-Hydrocarbon Contaminated Environment

The current study evaluated hydrocarbon-degrading and biosurfactant-producing potentials of bacteria isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil in Nigeria, the largest crude oil reservoir Africa. Pure bacterial isolates were grown on nutrient Bushnell Haas agar. Bacterial that grew both media molecularly identified via 16S rDNA sequence. Biosurfactant production detection was carried out spread test, drop collapse test surface tension measurement. isolate with lowest value used for further studies. growth selected measured using Spectroscopic technique, while biosurfactants culture supernatant determined by measurement tension, extracted surfactants characterized High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). colony forming unit agar ranged 1.35 x 108 to 1.93 cfu/g 9.33 105 1.84 106 cfu/g. species belonged three genera including Bacillus, Cellulosimicrobium Pseudomonas. P. aeruginosa HB6 (39) accession number MW367569.1 had (33.77±0.12a) indicating it best biosurfactant producer. attained early stationary phase at 10h cell-free showed excellent reduction potential. contained ample mono di-rhamnolipid congeners. is a potential bioremediation agent can also be large scale rhamnolipids other industrial applications.