African Journal of Soil Science

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 6 (1), pp. 435-439, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Attributes and potentials of bacteria isolates for the biodegration of Nigerian Bonny light crude oil in soil system

A. I. Okoh

Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 234-803-7145687

Accepted 11 July, 2017

Abstract

In an effort at developing an active indigenous bacterial consortium that could be of relevance in bioremediation of petroleum contaminated systems in Nigeria, four hydrocarbon degrading bacteria strains were isolated. Partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA of the isolates suggests that they are all strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Axenic cultures of the isolates biodegraded Bonny light crude oil in soil microcosm. Amount of crude oil biodegraded in 15 days ranged significantly (P < 0.05) from 4.9% to 29.6%. Degradation rates and specific growth rates varied significantly (P < 0.05) between 0.049 and 0.351 day^-1 and 0.017 and 0.028 hour^-1 respectively. Major peak components of the oil were reduced by between 6.5% and 70.6%. It would appear that oil degradation capability of axenic cultures of at least three of these isolates was not different from that of their consortium. Also, the multiple antibiotic resistance observed in the isolates is an important factor to consider in their eventual use in bioremediation exercises.