Open Access Library Journal How to cite this paper: Darsa, K.V. and Thatheyus, A.J. (2014) Biodegradation of Petroleum Compound Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Open Access Library Journal, 1: e735. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1100735 Biodegradation of Petroleum Compound Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa K. V. Darsa 1 , A. Joseph Thatheyus 2 1 PG Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The American College, Madurai, India 2 PG & Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai, India Email: jthatheyus@yahoo.co.in Received 16 May 2014; revised 26 June 2014; accepted 16 August 2014 Copyright © 2014 by authors and OALib. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract The present study was conducted to determine the biodegradation of petrol by Pseudomonas ae- ruginosa isolated from petrol contaminated soil. The isolated strain was able to grow in minimal broth along with 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% concentrations of petrol which indicated the capability of the organism in degrading petrol and utilizing it as a source for growth. The isolated strain’s ef- ficiency was determined by analyzing the parameters pH, optical density and CO2 released during petrol degradation. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis also confirmed the degradation of petrol by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Keywords Biodegradation, Hydrocarbons, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Petrol Subject Areas: Environmental Sciences, Microbiology 1. Introduction Petroleum-based products are the major source of energy for industry and daily life. Leaks and accidental spills occur regularly during the exploration, production, refining, transport and storage of petroleum and petroleum products. The amount of natural crude oil seepage was estimated to be 600,000 metric tons per year with a range of uncertainty of 200,000 metric tons per year [1]. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS) are important pollutants which are introduced into the environment through different ways such as anthropogenic activities, combustion, undesirable discharging of oil tankers, spills around petroleum refineries and gas plant facilities [2]- [4]. Hydrocarbons are considered to be of biological origin, since short and long chain hydrocarbons (alkanes: C10 - C20; C20 - C40) appear to be exclusively the origin of biological processes [5]. These compounds have toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic properties [6] [7] and are considered as a serious hazard to human health and environment [8]-[12]. The use of microorganisms to reduce petroleum pollution through bioremediation has