Investigation of Potential Marine Bacterial Isolates in Biodegradation Methods on Hydrocarbon Contamination

Hydrocarbon pollution, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic in the sea, has a negative impact on biota and must be controlled. Identification and isolation of bacteria that have the potential to degrade hydrocarbons in the sea need to be done to overcome the hydrocarbon pollution. The methods used include quantitative test for biodegradation capacity, identification of bacterial species, phenotype test for gram staining, biochemical test, and genotype test using PCR. The results of identification, selection and optimization of isolates, obtained seven types of consortium bacterial isolates with codes BI, BA, AB, BS, BP, BASA and BAPS which have the potential to degrade hydrocarbon contaminants. The phenotypic data showed that there were 3 isolates from the group of gram-positive Baccilus bacteria, while based on the genotype data, the three isolates were identified as Bacillus infantis and Acinetobacter baumannii . The results of the biodegradation activity test showed that the bacterial isolate was able to reduce the surface tension of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, so that the bacteria could act as a degrading hydrocarbon pollutant.