Abstract

Two petroleum degrading bacteria were screened for 2,4-dichlorophenyacetic acid (2,4-D) degrading abilities and assessed for their dechlorination potentials. The bacterial isolates were previously identified to be Corynebacterium sp. (SOGU16) andAchromobacter sp. (SOGU11). Axenic cultures of the isolates metabolise 2,4-D as the sole source of carbon and energy. The optimum pH for dioxygenase specific activities was between 7.6 and 8.0 and the optimum temperature was between 30 and 35°C. The cell-free extracts of the cultures in the 2,4-D demonstrated biological degradation of the 2,4-D compound. The observations made in this study are sufficient to conclude that the isolates obtained have reasonable potentials for application in bioremediation of both petroleum and 2, 4-D contaminated sites.

Key words: 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic, bioremediation, petroleum degraders.