• Jayanthi, R
• Hemashenpagam. N

Increasing contamination of soil with benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) due to activities of the chemical and oil refinery industry has prompted severe environmental pollution. The biodegradation of BTEX compounds by microorganisms has shown promising results to overcome this problem. In the present study, we found stabilized bacterial consortium from the oil contaminated soil samples in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. Among the 113 isolates, 65%, 67.2% and 55% of isolates observed from Benzene, Xylene and Toluene respectively. To confirm the ability of isolates to produce biosurfactant, agar blue plate, hemolysis, oil spreading test, drop collapsed assay and emulsification test were conducted. Among the 16 isolates of biosurfactant producers, 56% of were gram-negative isolates and 44% of were gram-positive isolates were observed. These isolates are valuable source to investigate further for future industrial applications.

Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene, Biosurfactant

"Screening of biosurfactant producing microorganisms from oil contaminated soil samples in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no.448-450, February-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1902373.pdf

"Screening of biosurfactant producing microorganisms from oil contaminated soil samples in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no. pp448-450, February-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1902373.pdf