Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon by Micrococcus sp. in form of wax ball

Hydrocarbon containing compounds like diesel, crude oil and petrol cause environmental pollution. Hydrocarbon contaminated sites contain large amount of microbial community adapted for utilizing these compound as a source of carbon and other metabolic activities. A study was conducted in order to isolate the micro-organism from hydrocarbon contaminated sites for petroleum degradation. The soil sample was collected from the bus terminal of Punjab University, Lahore. The isolate (Micrococcus sp.) was characterized microbiologically by using microbiological techniques such as staining and biochemical testing based on Bergey’s manual. Isolated organism has an ability to degrade the petrol as well as paraffin wax as a sole carbon source. This ability shows clear evidence that genome of this isolate harbors gene for degradation. By combined both properties, we can reduce petroleum product from hydrocarbon impacted environment.   Key words: Petrol degradation, paraffin wax, biochemical tests, wax ball.