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Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are particularly important due to large distribution in the environment, high toxicity and their carcinogen and mutagen properties. The purpose of this study was isolation and identification of phenanthrene degrading bacteria from the soil around Oil Company of Andimeshk (Iran) and investigation of their growth kinetics. Sampling from three stations was done at two seasons, spring and summer. Phenanthrene degrading bacteria were isolated from soil using enrichment method. Bacterial identification was performed by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined at various concentrations of phenanthrene. Bacterial biodegradation rate was determined using HPLC analysis. Finally, the growth kinetics of resistant bacteria was determined with culturing at concentrations of 0.5–0.8 g/l of phenanthrene. According to biochemical and molecular tests Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain SBL, Bacillus cereus strain Z4B-11, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Micrococcus luteus were identified as phenanthrene degrading bacteria. The results showed that P. aeruginosa SBL and B. cereus Z4B-11 with the greatest amount of MIC are the most phenanthrene resistant bacteria, respectively. These two strains degraded 70% and 50% of phenanthrene after one week of incubation, respectively. The most growth in different concentrations of phenanthrene belonged to P. aeruginosa SBL and B. cereus Z4B-11 while the least growth belonged to S. epidermidis and M. luteus, respectively. It could be concluded that two new strains SBL and Z4B-11 which were isolated in the soil around Oil Company of Andimeshk have relatively high potential to be used for bioremediation of phenanthrene.