Degradation of long-chain n-alkanes (C36 and C40) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain WatG

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain WatG was unable to utilize either n-hexatriacontane (C36) or n-tetracontane (C40), which are both insoluble in a mineral salts medium (MSM), as a sole carbon source. However, when C36 and C40 were added to MSM containing crude oil, more than 25% of each of the compounds was degraded by this strain after 2 weeks at 30 °C. These results demonstrate that P. aeruginosa strain WatG has the ability to degrade long-chain alkanes up to C40, when they are solubilized by crude oil components.