Abstract
Fungi capable of effectively degrading and cleaning up hydrocarbons was isolated from soil samples contaminated with used engine oil at auto-mechanic workshops (at Mgbuka-Nkpor, Nigeria) using vapour phase transfer method. The ability of the potential isolates to utilize used engine oil, diesel and petrol were assessed using gravimetric method. The ability of both the pure and consortium culture of the best potential strains to degrade the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) component of used engine oil, diesel and petrol was assessed using Gas Chromatography. A total of 8 fungal isolates were identified in this study based on their cultural and microscopic characteristics. Of these, 4 that showed high promise for hydrocarbon bioremediation potentials in screen flasks were confirmed as Candida tropicalis, Rhodosporidium toruloids, Fusarium oxysporium and Aspergillus clavatus based on their 18S rRNA gene sequencing. High biodegradation efficiency (> 70%) was recorded in the PAHs component in used engine oil, diesel and petrol with both the pure and consortium culture of the best potential strains; C. tropicalis and A. clavatus, within 16 days of incubation at 28℃. However, there was complete (100%) depletion of some PAHs such as anthracene, naphthalene, acenaphthalene, acenaphthylene, phenanthrene and benzo (k) fluoranthene) in the hydrocarbon substrates with the pure and consortium culture of the isolates within 16 days of incubation at 28℃. Both the pure and consortium culture of the isolates (Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus clavatus) could therefore be utilized in the bioremediation of used engine oil, diesel and petroleum, as well as PAHs contaminated soil.
Highlights
The development of petroleum industry into new frontiers, the apparent inevitable spillages that occur during routine operations and records of acute accidents during transportation has called for more studies into oil pollution problems [1]
The amounts of hydrocarbon left after 16 days incubation was determined by extracting the residual oil with n-hexane (BDH Chemicals, England) in a separating funnel and noting their absorbance reading at 450nm, and the concentrations read off from the standard curve obtained from n-hexane extracts of used engine oil at different concentrations
The result of the Gas Chromatographic analysis for the removal of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in used engine oil by the two best potential strains: Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus clavatus, as well as their mixed culture of the organisms are presented in table 3
Summary
The development of petroleum industry into new frontiers, the apparent inevitable spillages that occur during routine operations and records of acute accidents during transportation has called for more studies into oil pollution problems [1]. Engine oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds, including some organometallic constituents [6]. It contains hundreds or thousands of aliphatic, branched and aromatic hydrocarbons [7,8], most of which are toxic to living organisms [9]. Isolation and Characterization of Hydrocarbon Degrading Fungi from Used (Spent) Engine Oil Polluted. Soil and Their Use for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Degradation is accomplished with the help of a diverse group of microorganisms, the indigenous bacteria present in soil. This study was undertaken with a view to isolate and characterize fungi from used engine oil-polluted soil and to access the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degrading potentials of the isolates
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