Razia Tahseen (SS, Group Leader)

Research Area of Interest: Bioremediationof petroleum contamination in soil and water.

Team Members:

Dr. Zafar M. Khalid (Chief Scientist)
Dr. Qaiser M. Khan (Principal Scientist) 
Razia Tahseen (Senior Scientist)

• Bioremediation of petroleum contaminated    soil by mutant 300-B and its parent  strain 33 was observed, mutant 300-B utilized more petroleum (53%) than its parent strain (30%). 
• Development of thermotolerant bacteria (300-H) with ability to degrade oil at 45 ºC.
• Land farming studies for oil degradation in oily sludge generated from National Oil Refinery at temperature 42-48 ºC.  The difference of the ability of oily sludge contaminated sand and bacterially treated sand for plant growth (Chickpea) was determined. Bacterially treated sand was much better for plant growth as compared to the untreated contaminated sand.
• Bioremediation of oil polluted sand due to spillage from an oil tanker "Tasman Spirit" at Karachi sea shore was successfully completed.
• Microbial degradation of crude oil and production of Biosurfactants