Enzymatic remediation of the polluted crude oil by Rhodococcus

A Rhodococcus strain was isolated from the activated sludge in oil field and its enzymatic remediation activity of crude oil was investigated. Potential impact of different levels of crude oil on activities of enzymes (dehydrogenase, catalase, urease and polyphenol oxidase) from this strain was studied after 120 days of continuous application. Enzyme activities were compared with microbial biomass samples and available samples. The activities of bacterial enzymes and degradation of various components of the crude oil were analyzed. The results showed that all the four enzymes were inhibited with the increase of crude oil concentration, and the components of crude oil were changed with the enzymes. After 120 days, the crude oil polluted- soil was well remediated and the enzymes could promote the microbiological degradation. Furthermore, the effect of different carbon sources on the biomass production of Rhodococcus strain was investigated.