Abstract
The aim of the study is to isolate indigenous bacterial species which have the ability to degrade crude oil. Samples were collected from an oil polluted site in Ejama-Ebubu Eleme Rivers state. The samples were taken from five spot (A-E), of depth 0-15 (A1– E1) and 15-30 (A2– E2) in sterile polyethylene bags, using appropriate equipment, then taken to the laboratory for analysis, Physicochemical parameters such as pH, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), salinity, temperature, conductivity and heavy metals (iron, zinc, nikel, lead, chromium) were determined, The THB count was determined using the spread plate method on nutrient agar. Soil, sediment and water physicochemical parameters determined indicated that the samples had been exposed to hydrocarbon contamination. The Gram negative bacteria belonging to the genus pseudomonas is the most frequent. Other genera isolated were Nocardia, Micrococcus,Chromobacterium, Burkholdia, Corynebacterium. The study revealed the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in the Ejama_Ebubu site as well as known genera of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria. The biases associated with culture-dependent microbial enumeration techniques may limit the full description of the bacterial diversity in Ejama-Ebubu site. From the study, it is concluded that microorganisms that can degrade hydrocarbons are found in oil contaminated soil and can easily be isolated from these contaminated sites, although it is very difficult to work with aromatic hydrocarbons due to their volatility and toxic effects.
Highlights
The release of hydrocarbon into soil and water promotes the growth and proliferation of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms (HUM), which includes both bacteria and fungi
The samples were taken from five spot (A-E), of depth 0-15 (A1– E1) and 15-30 (A2– E2) in sterile polyethylene bags, using appropriate equipment, taken to the laboratory for analysis, Physicochemical parameters such as pH, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), salinity, temperature, conductivity and heavy metals were determined, The total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) count was determined using the spread plate method on nutrient agar
The biases associated with culture-dependent microbial enumeration techniques may limit the full description of the bacterial diversity in Ejama-Ebubu site
Summary
The release of hydrocarbon into soil and water promotes the growth and proliferation of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms (HUM), which includes both bacteria and fungi. These hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB) and hydrocarbon utilizing fungi (HUF) are the organisms that are responsible for the biodegradation and eventual cleanup of oil spills in our environment Bioremediation, which is accomplished by adding exogenous microbial populations or stimulating indigenous ones, attempts to raise the rates of degradation found naturally to significantly higher rates (Watanabe,2001). The biodegradation is not a new concept when dealing with oil pollutants, it has been intensively studied in controlled conditions (Chaillan et al, 2004) and in open field experiments (Chaıneau et al, 2003; Gogoi et al, 2003), but it has acquired a new significance as an increasingly effective and potentially inexpensive cleanup technology. The screening of potential crude oil degrading organisms is one of the key steps (Varjani et al 2013)
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