LAUSR

ABSTRACT Microbial remediation is an efficient method of removing paraffin wax from oil wells and pipelines and is found to be environment friendly and economical. In this study, a potential paraffin wax degrading bacterial strain was isolated from oil wells of Gujarat and was identified as Pseudomonas nitroreducens by 16S rRNA sequencing. Pseudomonas nitroreducens showed 100% utilization of heneicosane, 79.74% utilization of pentacosane and 72.50% utilization of triacontane, the major components of paraffin wax in 8 days at 37°C. Pseudomonas nitroreducens degraded 70% of paraffinic crude oil in 10 days at 37°C. The probable end products formed after degradation of eicosane and heneicosane by Pseudomonas nitroreducens were analysed by Mass Spectrum. The above results proving isolate as a potential candidate for degradation of paraffin wax in oil wells.