To explore the feasibility of using halophilic petroleum-degrading bacteria for the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil, the growth and total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH) degradation performance of a halophilic petroleum-degrading bacteria named Halomonas sp. 1-3, which was selected from the Shengli Oil Field in previous research, was investigated in the present study. The strain showed a short lag phase before the stationary phase, followed by a decline phase soon when cultured at low salinity. When cultured at salinity higher than 9%, the lag phase was prolonged, and the stationary phase was delayed but more stable. The TPH degradation process started promptly but stopped quickly when cultured at low salinity conditions, while the process continued when cultured with salinity between 5% and 10%. The highest degradation rate was between 55% and 85% for different TPH components with 5% salinity. However, the degradation rate declined with increasing NaCl concentration. The degradation rate showed different trends with varied TPH components, especially with the artificially divided two groups according to their different carbon contents, C10~C14 and C29~C36, with the former exhibiting a declining degradation rate, while the latter showed an opposite trend with increasing NaCl concentration. The results indicated Halomonas sp. 1-3 had an effective degradation effect on petroleum hydrocarbons in a saline-alkali environment.
