Isolation of Brachymonas petroleovorans CHX, a novel cyclohexane-degrading beta-proteobacterium.

A new bacterium that grows aerobically on cyclohexane was isolated from the wastewater plant of a petroleum refinery. This strain grows on a range of light hydrocarbons (C5-C10) as well as on some aromatic compounds such as toluene and m-cresol. Growth on hydrocarbons requires the presence of yeast extract and other complex media components that are not substrates for growth themselves. Strain CHX is resistant to cyclohexane and grows at concentrations up to 2 g l(-1). Strain CHX branches deeply within the Comamonadeae family of beta-proteobacteria and is tentatively assigned to the Brachymonas genus as Brachymonas petroleovorans CHX.