Anaerobic oxidation of alkanes by newly isolated denitrifying bacteria

The capacity of denitrifying bacteria for anaerobic utilization of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) was investigated with n-alkanes of various chain lengths and with crude oil in enrichment cultures containing nitrate as electron acceptor. Three distinct types of denitrifying bacteria were isolated in pure culture. A strain (HxN1) with oval-shaped, nonmotile cells originated from a denitrifying enrichment culture with crude oil and was isolated with n-hexane (C6H14). Another strain (OcN1) with slender, rod-shaped, motile cells was isolated from an enrichment culture with n-octane (C8H18). A third strain (HdN1) with oval, somewhat pleomorphic, partly motile cells originated from an enrichment culture with aliphatic mineral oil and was isolated with n-hexadecane (C16H34). Cells of hexane-utilizing strain HxN1 grew homogeneously in the growth medium and did not adhere to the alkane phase, in contrast to the two other strains. Quantification of substrate consumption and cell growth revealed the capacity for complete oxidation of alkanes under strictly anoxic conditions, with nitrate being reduced to dinitrogen.