Sustainable Bioremediation of Marine Oil Contaminants by Novel Strains of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus

Vibha Bhardwaj*

Director Environment Laboratories, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

*Corresponding Author: Vibha Bhardwaj, Director Environment Laboratories, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

DOI: 10.64258/3069-7557.2025.103003

Submission Date: June 14, 2025

Published Date: June 26, 2025

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Abstract

Urban environmental pollution caused by the indiscriminate disposal of used engine oil poses a significant public health threat worldwide due to its persistent toxicity. This study evaluates the biodegradation potential of selected bacterial isolates against used engine oil and mineral oil contaminants in marine water environments. The agar well diffusion method was employed to assess the hydrocarbon-degrading capabilities of four bacterial strains. Among the tested isolates, Bacillus subtilis showed notable biodegradation, producing clear zones of 48 ± 0.5 mm and 35 ± 0.2 mm for used engine oil and mineral oil, respectively. Likewise, Staphylococcus aureus exhibited strong degradation activity with zones measuring 52 ± 0.2 mm for used engine oil and 47 ± 0.2 mm for mineral oil. Conversely, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli displayed minimal degradation under the same conditions. Ciprofloxacin and sterile water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. These findings highlight the significant biodegradative potential of S. aureus and B. subtilis, supporting their application in bioremediation strategies aimed at restoring hydrocarbon-contaminated aquatic ecosystems. The study emphasizes the role of microbial agents in promoting environmental sustainability and reducing the ecological and health risks associated with petroleum pollutants

Keywords

Biodegradation, Used engine oil, environment sustainability, microorganisms, bioremediation, Bacillus subtilis

Citation

Vibha Bhardwaj (2025) Sustainable Bioremediation of Marine Oil Contaminants by Novel Strains of Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus. Ann Biotech & Biomed Sci 1(1): 1-10.