@article{ijebb2015314,
author={{K., Esedafe W. and E., Fagade O. and F., Umaru F. and O., Akinwotu},
title={Bacterial Degradation of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) -Fraction of Refinery Effluent},
journal={International Journal of Environmental Bioremediation & Biodegradation},
volume={3},
number={1},
pages={23--27},
year={2015},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/ijebb/3/1/4},
issn={2333-8636},
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 กม 10<SUP>6 </SUP>to 2.7 กม 10<SUP>6 </SUP>cfu/ml for soil samples and 3.2 กม 10<SUP>6 </SUP>cfu/ml for water sample. The hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria count ranged from 1.4 กม 10<SUP>3 </SUP>to 2.0 กม 10<SUP>3 </SUP>cfu/ml for soil samples and 1.0 กม 10<SUP>3</SUP>cfu/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 <i>Pseudomonas</i>sp(SB), <i>Achromobacterxylosoxidans</i>(SB1) and <i>Pseudomonas</i>sp(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 <i>Pseudomonas</i>sp(SB) with 96% and <i>Achromobacterxylosoxidans</i>(SB1) having the lowest with 93.40%.},
doi={10.12691/ijebb-3-1-4}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}