Utilization of petroleum hydrocarbons by Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from a petroleum-contaminated soil

A strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, isolated from petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil was examined for its ability to utilize a variety of hydrocarbon substrates. Surface tension measurements indicated the production of biosurfactant during the microbial degradation of hydrocarbon. The organism utilized both short and long chain n-alkanes. It emulsified a number of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.