Degradation of Car Engine Base Oil by Rhodococcus sp. NDKK48 and Gordonia sp. NDKY76A

Abstract

Two microorganisms (NDKK48 and NDKY76A) that degrade long-chain cyclic alkanes (c-alkanes) were isolated from soil samples. Strains NDKK48 and NDKY76A were identified as Rhodococcus sp. and Gordonia sp., respectively. Both strains used not only normal alkane (n-alkane) but also c-alkane as a sole carbon and energy source, and the strains degraded more than 27% of car engine base oil (1% addition). © 2003 by Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.