Biodegradation of Bonny Light crude oil by bacteria isolated from contaminated soil

Abstract

Two hydrocarbon degraders isolated from an abandoned coal power plant soil in Lagos, Nigeria, were tested. The isolates were identified as belonging to the genus Pseudomonas. P. putida G1 exhibited strong degradative ability on crude oil, kerosene, fair ability on engine oil, brake oil and petrol and a weak ability on pyrene, while P. aeruginosa K1 had corresponding values of 0.21days-1 and 3.31 days. The amount of crude oil degraded by strain G1 and K1 after a 21 day incubation period were 92.05% and 90.89% respectively. Data obtained from gas chromatographic analysis of oil recovered from culture fluids of G1 and K1 confirmed a near-disappearance of aliphatic fractions and a significant reduction of aromatic fractions in the hydrocarbon mixture. © 2010 Friends Science PublishersTwo hydrocarbon degraders isolated from an abandoned coal power plant soil in Lagos, Nigeria, were tested. The isolates were identified as belonging to the genus Pseudomonas. P. putida G1 exhibited strong degradative ability on crude oil, kerosene, fair ability on engine oil, brake oil and petrol and a weak ability on pyrene, while P. aeruginosa K1 had corresponding values of 0.21days-1 and 3.31 days. The amount of crude oil degraded by strain G1 and K1 after a 21 day incubation period were 92.05% and 90.89% respectively. Data obtained from gas chromatographic analysis of oil recovered from culture fluids of G1 and K1 confirmed a near-disappearance of aliphatic fractions and a significant reduction of aromatic fractions in the hydrocarbon mixture.