Strains Biodegradation level of evaluated compounds (%)a 9,10-dihydrophe nanthrene nonadecane nonadecanoic acid Squalane Cholestenone Bacillus fimus P1_1 - b 3 63 68 16 Micrococcus luteus P4_1 19 13 63 89 18 Staphylococcus hominis AF 32 20 13 - 89 18 Marinobacter lutaoensis AF 33 14 2 63 89 18 Halomonas shengliensis AF 19 9 13 63 89 18 Citreicella thiooxidans AF 47 14 2 63 78 18 Bacillus simplex SG 23_2 2 10 62 79 18 Bacillus megaterium P 2_2 4 - 62 - 7 Bacillus sphaericus SG 25 7 9 60 82 18 Bacillus pumilus AF 35 15 9 63 79 16 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SG 59 10 0.2 63 73 18 Bacillus thuringiensis SG 21 40 - - - -b Achromobacter xylosoxidans SG 47_1 15 12 50 83 18 Kocuria rosea AF 44 17 11 63 79 18 Bacillus safensis SG 32 - 13 63 - - Streptomyces sp. AF 45 - - 50 - - Bacillus safensis SG 01 - 13 63 - - Bacillus safensis SG 30 - 13 63 - - a net values (obtained by subtracting values determined for the negative control containing dead cells from the total biodegradation percentage). -b biodegradation undetected.

Table 3: Biodegradation percentages of the petroleum biomarkers by the bacterial isolates.