Abstract
Soil samples collected from Ikokwu auto-mechanic village Mile 3, Port Harcourt, Nigeria were analyzed for the microbiological and hydrocarbon content using standard culture dependent and physiochemical methods. Five sets of soil designated A, B, C, D and E were collected using composite technique at depth 0 - 15 cm and 15 -30 cm. The parameters analyzed over an experimental period of 60 days were; total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and total hydrocarbon content (THC). The total heterotrophic bacterial count (THB) ranges from 1.36 x 10 6 - 1.10 x 10 8 cfu/g for A- E (0-15) cm and 5.0 x 10 5 - 7.0 x 10 7 cfu/g for (15-30) cm while the total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB) count ranges from 3.5 x 10 5 - 5.4 x 10 6 cfu/g for (0-15)cm and 2.0 x 10 5 - 9.4 x 106 for (15-30) cm. The bacteria isolates included the genera Bacillus sp., Flavobacterius sp., Pseudomonas sp., Micrococcus sp., Arthrobacter sp., Acetobacter sp., Proteus sp. and Staphylcoccus sp. The TPH ranges from 34.32 - 1746.6mg/kg for (0-15) cm and 29.49 -1141.0 mg/kg for (15-30) cm. The THC ranges from 1.3 - 5.66 mg/kg for (0-15) cm and 0.84 - 2.719 mg/kg for (15-30) cm. PAH recorded a value of 3.246 - 6.890 mg/kg for (0-15) cm and 0.096 - 2.860 mg/kg for (15-30) cm. It is recommended that (i) the hydrocarbon degraders be enhance and employed for bioremediation of auto-mechanic workshop (ii) it is essential that the metagenomics of spent engine oil contaminated soil at auto-mechanic workshop be studied for optimum utilization of their potentials. Keywords: Soils, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons, Spent engine oil, hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria
Highlights
The unsystematic discharging of auto-mechanic workshop waste (spent engine oil) as resulted in the degradation of the environment owning to the fact that change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable is refer to as environmental degradation (Johnson et al, 1997)
Hydrocarbon Content of Soil: The total hydrocarbon content of soil sample at depth 0 - 15 cm ranges from 1.3 - 5.66 ppm while depth 15 - 30 cm ranged from 0.54 2.719 ppm
Auto-mechanic workshops are noted for huge blanket discharge of spent and unspent engine oil and other refined petroleum products as a result of the activities undertaken in the workshop; serving, maintenance and repairs of vehicles (Fery, 2007)
Summary
The unsystematic discharging of auto-mechanic workshop waste (spent engine oil) as resulted in the degradation of the environment owning to the fact that change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable is refer to as environmental degradation (Johnson et al, 1997). The percentage of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria presence at auto-mechanic workshop are higher than heterotrophic bacteria (Onwurah et al, 2007) the exploitation of some of these hydrocarbon utilizers for the remediation of engine oil contaminated sites.
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