Iyer, Rupa2017-06-222017-06-22May 20172017-05May 2017http://hdl.handle.net/10657/1818Petrochemical refineries and human activities are responsible for release of carcinogenic compounds known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Adverse effects of these compounds on human health and ecosystem resulted in an increased awareness, and lead to dramatic increase in research intended to remove PAHs from the ecosystem. In the present study naphthalene was used as a model compound. It was hypothesized that the microorganisms isolated from naphthalene contaminated soil collected from petrochemical refineries in Texas could be utilizing naphthalene as a carbon source. The naphthalene degradation capability of microorganisms could be an indication of their ability to degrade PAHs. In this study the isolated strains were identified as Enterobacter cloacae and Cellulosimicrobium cellulans based on results from 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis. Bacterial consortium and effect of different conditions on cell growth using naphthalene as a sole carbon source were studied.application/pdfengThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).Polycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsBacterial consortiumNaphthaleneEnterobacter cloacaeCellulosimicrobium cellulansSoilOil refineries2017-06-22Thesisborn digital