Aerobic Degradation of Anthracene, Benzo(a)Anthracene and Dibenzo(a,h) Anthracene by Indigenous Strains of Aerobic Heterotrophic Bacteria and Cyanobacteria Isolates From Crude Oil Contaminated Bodo Creek

Abstract

Biodegradation of anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene by indigenous strains of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria isolated from Bodo creek - a moderate salt aquatic environment polluted with crude oil was monitored for 56 days using GC-MS. Anthracene was mineralized to 0.1, 0.001 and 0.08 mg/l by aerobic heterotrophic bacteria cyanobacteria and consortium of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria respectively. Benzo(a)anthracene was reduced to 0.03, 0.01 and 0.02 mg/l in the treatments of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria cyanobacteria and consortium of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria respectively where as dibenzo(a,h)anthracene was reduced to 0 mg/l in all the treatment options on the 56th day monitored. Fluctuations in the quantity of PAHs monitored and was observed at some weeks since it did not follow a straight and consistent reduction pattern but did not vary significantly with time when compared with the control at p>0.05 since the monitored PAHs were degraded in both the treatment options and the control.