Biological Degradation of Naphthalene: A New Era

Naphthalene is a simplest Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH). PAHs are major contaminants of environment, associated with common anthropogenic activities such as oil refineries and incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. PAHs are toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. Isolation of naphthalene degrading bacteria is recommended using a complex ONR 7a medium. Present work includes a modified medium with Naphthalene as a sole source of carbon. Four isolates were screened from marine sample collected from Mumbai as well as petroleum soil sample from Trimbak road Satpur, Nashik. Further characterization using morphological and biochemical tests showed resemblance with Gram positive bacteria as well as Gram negative bacteria, belonging to genus such as Micrococcus spp, Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas spp. These strains were further grown in modified broth for 45 days as well as on ONR 7a agar medium. In turbidometric assay Bacillus spp showed significant growth at 1 mg/ ml of naphthalene concentration. Catechol which is a intermediate product which generated through biodegradation of naphthalene was detected by Winkelmann modified Arnow’s method. All four isolates efficiently degraded naphthalene which was confirmed by Arnow’s test. These naphthalene degraders could be further checked and explored for their efficiency in bioremediation of polluted marine environment and in oil contaminated fields. Citation: Pawar AN, Ugale SS, More MG, Kokani NF, Khandelwal SR (2013) Biological Degradation of Naphthalene: A New Era. J Bioremed Biodeg 4: 203. doi:10.4172/2155-6199.1000203 Volume 4 • Issue 7 • 1000203 J Bioremed Biodeg ISSN: 2155-6199 JBRBD, an open access journal Page 2 of 5 aromatic compounds were selected as appropriate microbial strains. Naphthalene is difficult to be used in its crystal structure, as it cannot be dissolved directly in broth or agar so a special treatment has to be given. To prepare stock solution of naphthalene that can be added, an excess of naphthalene was transferred to bottle containing Methylene dichloride, and Methylene dichloride was removed by evaporation [1]. After that it was introduced in agar and broth in sufficient quantity.