Three diesel-degrading bacterial strains, Alcaligenes piechaudii CC-ESB2, Gordonia hirsuta CC-GH1 and
Rhodococcus ruber CC-RR1, isolated from an oil contaminated site were tested for their hydrocarbon
degrading potential. Various traits include oxygen requirement, salinity tolerance, floating activity, cell
surface hydrophobicity, emulsification activity, surface tension reduction and hydrocarbon utilization
were tested for the exploration of oil degrading candidates. These parameters were assessed in this study
which served as indicators for the bioremediation of contaminated soils, groundwater and marine
environments.