Bacterial Degradation of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) -Fraction of Refinery Effluent

Esedafe W. K.¹, Fagade O. E.¹, Umaru F. F.^2, and Akinwotu O.¹

¹Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

²Department of Biological Sciences, Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Esedafe W. K., Fagade O. E., Umaru F. F. and Akinwotu O.. Bacterial Degradation of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) -Fraction of Refinery Effluent. International Journal of Environmental Bioremediation & Biodegradation. 2015; 3(1):23-27. doi: 10.12691/ijebb-3-1-4

Abstract

The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in refinery effluents is of great concern globally due to its persistence, recalcitrance and carcinogenicity. This study was aimed at bacterial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in untreated refinery effluent. Contaminated soil samples were collected from Warri refinery jetty while water sample was collected from Ekpan River and untreated effluent was collected from Warri refinery and Petrochemical Company. The total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 0.6 × 10⁶ to 2.7 × 10⁶ cfu/ml for soil samples and 3.2 × 10⁶ cfu/ml for water sample. The hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria count ranged from 1.4 × 10³ to 2.0 × 10³ cfu/ml for soil samples and 1.0 × 10³cfu/ml for water sample. Among the 41 bacterial isolates capable of utilizing crude oil vapour, 26 gave a positive emulsification activity on crude oil while only 3 were capable of degrading anthracene and phenanthrene. The three (3) PAH-degraders were characterized and identified as Pseudomonassp(SB), Achromobacterxylosoxidans(SB1) and Pseudomonassp(SB3). The percentage degradation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the refinery effluent after 360hours was highest in the mixed bacterial culture with 97.90% and this was followed closely by Pseudomonassp(SB) with 96% and Achromobacterxylosoxidans(SB1) having the lowest with 93.40%.

Keywords:
refinery effluent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biodegradation biosurfactant

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